MADISON – Senator Eric Wimberger (R-Oconto) and Representative Benjamin Franklin (R-De Pere) released the following statement before the Joint Committee on Finance, the state’s budget-writing committee, is set to include the $30 million budget motion they authored to support the Southern Bridge Underpass project serving Northeast Wisconsin in the 2025-26 State Budget:
“Two years ago, I secured a huge win for the region guiding funding for the Southern Bridge through the Finance Committee and the Legislature. Today I’m excited to announce the Committee’s continued investment in the Southern Bridge Connector Project with $30 million toward Section GV-15, a crucial railway underpass and connection to I-41,” Senator Wimberger said. “Many thanks to Representative Benjamin Franklin for cosponsoring our motion for the Finance Committee. His leadership in bringing it through the Assembly process was integral for me to persuade the Committee of the project’s importance to our community.”
“Today’s budget committee action is a big win for commuters in our region,” Representative Franklin stated. “Whether you’re only visiting Northeast Wisconsin or live here with your family, investing in our roads helps everyone get where they’re going safely, and keeps all of our communities better connected to one another.”
Senator Wimberger has been an advocate of the Southern Bridge project – and other local and agricultural road initiatives – in both this and previous State Budgets. In the last Budget, the Senator secured $50 million to help build the Southern Bridge Connector Project, which broke ground this May. Senator Wimberger has also voted to deliver $362 million for statewide local road and bridge funding, as well as an additional $150 million to support the improvement of agricultural roads across Wisconsin.
