Wisconsin Gov. Evers signs farm-road bill at Stoddard area dairy farm

You might soon see more road and bridge improvements in farm areas of Wisconsin, as a result of a bill signed Wednesday in the La Crosse area by Gov. Tony Evers.

The governor went to the Servais family farm, also called the Hamburg Hills Farm, outside Stoddard, to put his signature on the Agriculture Road Improvement Program, which will provide $150 million from the state’s $7 billion budget surplus for road and bridge work.

“For large farm equipment or trucks hauling live animals or crops, hitting the wrong bump in the road can have devastating consequences,” Evers told spectators who were on hand for the signing of Senate Bill 247, including area legislators. A news release says the new law will make targeted investments in eligible road projects which might not otherwise receive state funding.

State Sen. Brad Pfaff was a co-sponsor of the bill. The Democrat who represents District 32, including La Crosse, cited a recent collapse of a small bridge in the area as a reason the funding is needed.

“On April 15th, in the town of Farmington,” Pfaff said, “a rural bridge collapsed. A fertilizer truck was on that bridge at that time. Thankfully, no one was injured, and no fertilizer was spilled.” The bridge was built over a small creek on a private farm.

Pfaff added that if farm vehicles can’t travel safely on rural bridges and roads, they’ll have trouble getting their products to consumers.

Evers visited the same farm two years ago during June Dairy Month, to promote farm development programs for the state. He says this bill-signing was also timed to recognize Dairy Month.