Investments in Maritime Infrastructure Announced for Wisconsin Communities

MADISON — Governor Tony Evers, along with WisDOT, announced more than $2.3 million in annual payments from the Lift Bridge Aids program will go to five cities to help maintain 10 lift bridges across Wisconsin.

The announcement comes was part of Evers’ annual “Pothole Patrol” tour, helping to fix potholes on local roads himself while highlighting his administration’s ongoing efforts to bolster Wisconsin’s 21st-century transportation infrastructure throughout the state.

“We’ve been working hard to build the 21st-century infrastructure needed to support a 21st-century economy, and here in Wisconsin, that includes our maritime trade,” said Gov. Tony Evers. “Our coastal infrastructure and bridges play a critical role in keeping our economy and our state strong, so as a state, we are proud to support the communities that ensure our ports run smoothly and efficiently, ensuring Wisconsin products get from point A to B safely.”

Wisconsin’s lift bridges, which raise a section of roadway vertically to allow the passage of taller ships into the state’s city ports, are essential to the state’s maritime economy. The LBA program, which reimburses cities for the costs accrued from maintaining and operating lift bridges that provide connections to the state trunk highway system, is administered by WisDOT and is funded by the state’s Transportation Fund.

“Wisconsin’s lift bridges are crucial to our state’s economy and ensure that maritime activities and businesses have access to our port cities,” said WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman. “These lift bridge payments help to open global markets to our manufacturers, agricultural producers, and many other businesses in the state of Wisconsin.”

Thanks to the funding secured in the bipartisan budget, and as noted above, in this latest round of funding, the city of Menasha will receive $116,122.55 for their Racine St. lift bridge. In addition, nine lift bridges received funding from the LBA program, which will cover the maintenance expenses submitted by these municipalities, including: