WAUSAU, WI (WSAU-WAOW) — Transportation Secretary Craig Thompson says he’s heard your complaints when it comes to Business 51 between Schofield and Rothschild.
Wisconsin’s roads czar made the trip down that troubled stretch of the road Friday with crews from WAOW TV and says there’s no doubt that the pavement needs some care.
“It’s not good. It’s tenting,” said Thompson. “I think that’s why you’re hearing about it from a lot of people around here. It’s not a good ride.”
He said it’s possible that the DOT could make a temporary fix to the road in 2020 by tearing up the roadway and laying down a new two-inch overlay, but that would then require them to come back a few years later to address other issues beneath the pavement.
Thompson also emphasized that the stretch of road isn’t the only one that needs attention across the state.
Five governing bodies including leaders in Schofield, Rothschild, and the Marathon County Board of Supervisors, have all passed declarations to the state calling for the road’s improvement. The Metropolitan Planning Commission has also followed suit.
The DOT has acknowledged those resolutions and could schedule public input sessions in each of those communities about the issue.
