Getting The Highway 23 Project Back On Track

After a few years of delays on the expansion of State Highway 23 from Fond du Lac to Plymouth some progress will be made this year. State Senator Dan Feyen notes a new Environmental Impact Statement is being prepared and should be completed by April. The state lawmaker from Fond du Lac points out traffic count studies didn’t meet the criteria for a four-lane expansion, but many people were avoiding using the road because of safety issues. He expects traffic counts to increase dramatically when the highway is expanded. He says, “Their projects say that when the road is done the volume will go up. I don’t remember the exact number, but the number was quite a bit making the road essential.” Feyen says the highway is an important connector between Interstate 41 and Interstate 43. He says, “I also believe just for the safety of out citizens in the area that commute back and forth to Sheboygan to Fond du Lac or Fond du Lac to Sheboygan or Plymouth or any other of those other the communities in between. Whether it be for work or they live there and they are working in Sheboygan or Fond du Lac and the commerce of the area. So its vital to the area we need to get this done.” Feyen points out construction of the project will start late this year or early next year on the far eastern side of the project, but they will have to include money in the next state budget to finish the project.