At a press conference today, Wisconsin DOT Secretary Frank Busalacchi and Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan announced the completion of the environmental impact statement required for a project to widen I-39/90 to six lanes from Beloit to Madison. Now that the environmental impact statement is complete, the State can apply for federal funds to complete the expansion of this stretch of Interstate.
Busalacchi said that he expects the federal government to sign off on the environmental impact statement in the next 30 days and that he hopes that the project will be complete by 2015. There are several more approvals required before the project can begin construction.
This project is expected to cost $1 billion. Supporters claim that expanding this stretch of highway will increase safety and boost the regional economy.