Wisconsin transportation secretary visits La Crosse harbor in support of funding for commercial transit

Wisconsin’s secretary of transportation, Craig Thompson, visited the Port of La Crosse on French Island, highlighting the need to support highways, railroads, and river traffic.

Thompson said a Harbor Assistance Program has provided millions of dollars to La Crosse for work such as repairing harbor docks, so barges can be loaded and unloaded easily.

“The Port of La Crosse handles nearly one million tons of commodities annually, including liquids, cement, grain” and other bulk products, Thompson told reporters during Tuesday’s visit.

He added that the harbor is strategically located near Interstate-90 and local railroad tracks.

Thompson said a federal program called PROTECT can provide millions of dollars for river, highway, and rail systems.

The $142 million in funding for Wisconsin for five years is larger than the amount set aside for Minnesota, but less than the funding provided for Illinois and Michigan.