HOBART, WI (WTAQ) – Local officials and businesses gathered to break ground on the beginning of a new interchange along State Highway 29 and County Highway VV in Hobart on Wednesday.
The goal of the project is simple. Improving safety and access for the Hobart and Howard communities. Those involved in the planning process believe a new interchange will achieve that.
“This stretch of 29 is the busiest East-West highway north of I-94 more than 20,000 vehicles go through the highway 29 VV connection every single day,” said Wisconsin Department of Transportation Secretary-designee, Craig Thompson. “This project is going to significantly enhance the movement of goods and people. It’s going to create a safe and convenient connection to Highway 29 for drivers, and for pedestrians crossing [Highway] 29…The planned improvements at this location are going to mean fewer crashes, [fewer] injuries, and easier travel. It’s going to save lives.”
“It required the collaboration of many people many entities,” said Howard Village Board President Burt McIntyre. “This is a project that’s going to swing wide the door to economic development, not only for existing development, but for future development.”
“A lot of people behind the scenes you all dangers this road was. So it’s very gratifying to be part of this incredible coalition. Republicans, Democrats, we all want to see it safer,” said State Senator Robert Cowles.
Pre-construction on the project began on April 26th. Construction is set to officially dig in on Monday.
“It’s going to take a full two years. We will be working throughout the summer, all the way until November. Next spring, we’ll get everything back going and hopefully by mid-October of 2022, everything should be wide open for business,” Project Development Supervisor Dan Segerstrom told WTAQ News. “When we put in the bridge and the roundabouts, we are going to have sidewalks and bicycle accommodations on the shoulders to get people from one side to the other. It’s going to be a huge advantage.”
Segerstrom says Evergreen Drive on the north side of Highway 29 will be finished as part of traffic staging to help local get around easier. He says there are eight total stages planned to maintain as much local access as possible during the construction process.
As for the Village of Hobart, the interchange is only the beginning.
“Our work is not done. In Hobart, we have over $8 million in planned improvements connected to the interchange, some of which you can already see under way,” Hobart Village Administrator Aaron Kramer said.
Overall, Brown County has invested roughly $3.6 million in the project, the villages of Howard and Hobart have each thrown in $1.7 million, and a federal grant will cover $20 million of the cost.
For more details and information about the project, click here.
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