For the Tomahawk Leader
WISCONSIN – Lincoln County is among more than 20 counties that will receive state funds to assist in maintaining and improving public roads in county forests.
Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) announced on Thursday, March 10 that roughly $320,000.00 in County Forest Road Aids had been earmarked to improve more than 900 miles of public roads.
Lincoln County will receive $9,564.75 to improve 27.25 miles of eligible public roads, according to data provided by the Governor’s office.
“Administered by WisDOT, the County Forest Road Aids program aims to defray county costs for the improvement and maintenance of public roads within county forests,” a release from Evers’ office stated.
The release said that to qualify for the state funding, roads must meet minimum design standards of a 16-foot surface width and a 20-foot roadway width, be located within county forests, be open and used for travel, and cannot be town roads or county or state highways.
County Forest Road Aids are separate from the larger General Transportation Aids (GTA) program. County forest roads are not eligible to receive General Transportation Aid.
“In just three years, we’ve made major headway on fixing our state’s roads and bridges, having already improved more than 1,770 miles of highways and more than 1,250 bridges, and it is critical for our growth as a state that we continue to invest in our state’s transportation infrastructure,” Evers stated. “I’m glad to approve these funds because our county forest roads are a key part of this investment and our future. Our state takes immense pride in our abundant natural resources, and these funds are an important tool in ensuring that folks are able to readily access our state’s forests and that communities have the resources to support the critical infrastructure needed to keep them accessible.”
“County forests provide great recreational opportunities across Wisconsin, and maintaining these roads not only helps tourism, but promotes industry and quality of life,” said WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson. “Thank you to the communities who partner with us to make good investments in our infrastructure.”