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• County road projects get a state funding boost

By Brady Bautch, RiverTown Staff

Five area counties will be receiving a total of $834,024 in state money to help with certain county road projects.

The money is part of the state's County Highway Improvement Program-Discretionary (CHIP-D), according to Lori Richter, a Wisconsin Department of Transportation spokesperson.

Richter says that the state government will give out a total of $10.8 million during the next biennial budget to help with 42 county highway projects.

All of the money these counties receive will go to help pay for hot asphalt mix.

St. Croix County will receive $198,356, according to the DOT. The total cost of that project is $900,000.

A sum of $100,000 will be going to Pierce County for the $780,000 CTH A project.

Meanwhile, Dunn County will get $140,000 to help in the $1.5 CTH Q project.

Polk County will get $170,668 as part of the $506,250 CTH X program.

As part of an $800,000 reconditioning project for CTH T, Chippewa County will receive $180,000.

Finally, Eau Claire County will get $225,000 to help pay for resurfacing of CTH ZZ. The total of that project is $896,600.

The only county in the region not to get any CHIP-D funds was Pepin.

Not all counties are guaranteed money, according to Richter.

"Because this is a discretionary program, it is competitive," said Richter.

According to Richter, by state statute counties must submit their requests to their district Wisconsin County Highway Association which is comprised of county transportation officials from the various counties in the different regions across the state.

"The WCHA panels then set criteria for the projects," she said.

One of the criteria used is safety. Another criteria is reconstruction or if it is a major project.

Other criteria include the high-traffic volume of the highway and whether it is a joint project with another government body.

"They can also set their own criteria such as economic development or scenic highway," Richter said.

She added that all projects must be at least $250,000 to be considered.

The WCHA panels then submit their recommendations to the DOT secretary who can approve or disapprove them.

Contact Brady Bautch at internet@rivertowns.net