PRIORITY: Expansion of Interstate 39/90 to Six Lanes

A safe, efficient, and well-maintained interstate highway system is vital to Janesville’s economic future. Therefore, Forward Janesville strongly supports the expansion of Interstate 39/90 to six lanes from the Illinois state line to Madison.

This 45-mile corridor has been approved for study by the Wisconsin State Legislature. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), the average traffic volume on this route is close to 60,000 vehicles per day. The Interstate was constructed between 1958 and 1961, and WisDOT itself says that the interchanges and roadways have substandard features compared to today’s safer design standards. This route has been the site of several high-profile public safety incidents, including the roadway’s two-day shutdown during a February 2008 blizzard.

Perhaps more importantly, the lack of an improved Interstate 39/90 is hindering Janesville’s economic competitiveness. These improvements will make it easier for Janesville’s manufacturers to ship their products both locally and globally, and will allow them easier access to the materials they need to succeed. In addition, experience has found that access to a robust road system is often integral to a company’s decision to locate a new facility in a particular geographic area.

In uncertain economic times, this project could mean thousands of jobs for Wisconsin. However, if we don’t do something soon, Interstate 39/90—one of the most vital entry points into our state—will become a virtual bottleneck.

Forward Janesville urges the state legislature to advance the timeline for expansion of Interstate 39/90 by providing significant funding during the 2009-10 legislative session. This is not an unprecedented request, as the Legislature accelerated infrastructure improvements to U.S. Highway 41 during the 2008-09 legislative session.