Finally, DOT realizes La Crosse doesn’t want a road through the marsh

So long 5B-1. Can’t say it’s been good to know you. After literally decades of discussion, planning, debate and voting, finally the idea of a road through the La Crosse marsh is done. The DOT proposed a variety of routes for getting cars north and south, proposing building through Red Cloud Park, and ultimately through the La Crosse marsh. People hated the idea. Overwhelmingly. Voters in 1998 said no to the plan. But the state stayed staunch, having already allocated the money for the project. Now, almost a quarter century after we said no to the proposal, the state has finally relented. They have officially killed the plan known as 5B-1. It’s not clear what has changed or why the decision is being made now. State DOT Secretary Craig Thompson says he now agrees the state should look at other ways to help traffic flow into and out of La Crosse without building in the marsh. That’s what people have been saying from the beginning. We weren’t opposed to traffic improvements, just a road through the marsh. So now the DOT will look at spending the money to improve Highways 53, 35 and 16 to improve north-south traffic flow. It is good the state made the decision, but it shouldn’t have taken decades for them to listen to the will of the people.