SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (WHBL-KFIZ) -- A delayed Highway 23 reconstruction plan was once again put on hold by a federal judge last week.
Wisconsin Eastern District Judge Lynn Adelman denied the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration's request to restart that construction project. Adelman had previously stopped that project after a complaint filed by the 1000 Friends of Wisconsin and requested more information on the project and its environmental impacts from officials. The two agencies provided that information to the judge back in December and had been waiting for a decision until last week.
State Senator Devin Lemahieu calls the action obstructionary. "The Legislature was clear in 1999 when they created the Highway 23 expansion project, and has remained clear to this day - the expansion of Highway 23 is vital to the safety of our roads and strength of our local economy. It’s unacceptable that an outside environmental group and a liberal judge continue to hold this project hostage."
The stretch of road between Plymouth and Fond Du Lac is the primary method of travel between the two cities and is consistently one of the most dangerous stretches of state highway in Wisconsin. Lemahieu says this project is desperately needed to improve safety. "And I've yet to hear any of my constituents contact me and say it's not needed. Definitely something the voters feel is important, I feel it's important, and it'd be great for the area."
State Representative Jeremy Thiesfeldt of Fond du Lac says that leaves two options for the Department of Transportation at this point. "A possible appeal to the Federal Appeals Court for this area, or I suppose possibly resubmitting some data once again." Lemahieu says the state and federal transportation departments need to move this up the legal ladder immediately. "I think we need to appeal it as quickly as possible. It's something that's been in the works since 1999. It's something that's overwhelmingly supported by people in this area, they see the need for safety."
There's not yet a timetable on when that might happen.