GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – As the Mason Street Bridge reopens to traffic in Green Bay, an area lawmaker is proposing a bill to fund repairs on another downtown bridge.
Democratic State Representative Kristina Shelton is looking to find funding for repairs on the Ray Nitschke Memorial/Main Street Bridge.
“[In January], I was made aware of the need to replace the hydraulic system within the Ray Nitschke Bridge at the amount of $1.2 million,” Shelton said. “This bridge is at immediate risk of failing to operate, and we thought it was a very important and timely conversation be having, given the fact that the Mason street bridge was up…I like to think proactively on our investment in our infrastructure.”
The funding was initially proposed in the governor’s recent state budget, but didn’t make the final draft. Shelton says that, as a community, people have to invest in infrastructure so it works for everyone.
“It’s important for us to invest in the things that we share, and things that not only allow us to travel and transport goods, but also for leisure and movement on the river and for people to use with their families,” Shelton told WTAQ News. “We rely everyday on these bridges to just get through our day, so people can get to work and enjoy the city. This is something we all use. If we’re in Northeast Wisconsin, we rely on these bridges.”
Shelton says she understands that not everyone will be keen about spending another $1.2 million in taxpayer money on a proactive bridge repair.
“But the question is – what happens if we don’t? The answer will be that we will be down a very important bridge, I mean this is the first bridge into the port of entry,” Shelton said. “It could signal to the community and the visitors of who we are. We may not want to spend the money, but we need to spend the money because the repairs are completely necessary.”
She adds that she’s worked hand-in-hand with Republican colleagues on projects like the renaming of the Bart Starr Memorial bridge and coal pile bills, and hopes that they will also extend a hand across the aisle. But for now, Shelton says she hasn’t heard from any Republicans who are interested in joining the effort.
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