Contact: Melanie Conklin, 608-260-2409
“As Wisconsinites travel to enjoy time with friends and family, they’ll unfortunately be jostled around on Walker’s deteriorating roads.”
MADISON — As Wisconsinites spend the holiday weekend traveling across the state to celebrate with friends and family, they will be made acutely aware of the abysmal state of Wisconsin’s roads and bridges, which have deteriorated under neglect by Gov. Scott Walker and legislative Republicans.
“As Gov. Walker chased the national spotlight, Wisconsin’s infrastructure was sorely neglected, and that hits taxpayers’ pocket books,” said Melanie Conklin, communications director for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. “Safe, reliable infrastructure is crucial to building thriving communities and fostering economic growth. It’s unfortunate Scott Walker doesn’t share that priority.”
According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, Wisconsinites are stuck paying an average of $637 a year on car repairs thanks to the poor quality of Wisconsin roads. A recent report found that due to declining state funding in infrastructure repair, local governments have been forced to turn to costly wheel taxes.
The extent of Wisconsin’s infrastructure crisis is staggering. Only 41% of Wisconsin state highways were rated in good condition in 2015, down from 54% in 2010 when Scott Walker was elected governor. The cost to fix the 2,809 bridges in need of repair totals $2.6 billion.
Walker has repeatedly made fiscally irresponsible decisions when it comes to funding our infrastructure. He diverted $90 million away from highway projects all around the state to accommodate his pet project Foxconn, which led to even more road projects moving to the back burner to prioritize his election-year gimmick.
Walker also rejected $800 million in federal funding for high speed rail, and he cost Wisconsin over $1 billion when he refused federal funds to expand BadgerCare, funding which could have freed up revenue for infrastructure repair.
“Scott Walker’s priorities have been his own personal ambitions and his donors rather than being a caretaker of Wisconsin,” added Conklin. “This Memorial Day weekend, as Wisconsinites travel to enjoy time with friends and family, they’ll unfortunately be jostled around on Walker’s deteriorating roads.”
