OSHKOSH, Wis. (WFRV) – The city of Oshkosh is raising concerns about the conditions of its aging highways.
Community leaders gathered near Highway 23 in Oshkosh to express the need for state-level investments in their roads.
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Matt Mugerauer, mayor of Oshkosh, said poor road conditions negatively impact safety, economic growth and the quality of life for everyone who lives in or visits the city.
“Oshkosh is experiencing a growing challenge that impacts every resident, every business and every traveler that goes through our city, and that is the deterioration of state highways that flow through our city,” Mugerauer said.
He added that the matter should not be considered political.
“This isn’t a political issue; this is about safety, fairness and common sense. Our residents pay their share to the state through various sales and income taxes, and they deserve their share of reinvestment in return.”
First responders at the event expressed how potholes and poor road conditions affect their ability to provide critical care.
“Avoiding bad routes adds to our response time and patient transport times,” said Aaron Droessler, battalion chief at the Oshkosh Fire Department.
Alex Hummel, chief of staff at UW-Oshkosh, said city infrastructure also plays a role in graduates staying in northeast Wisconsin.
“Ninety-one percent of students from UW-Oshkosh stick around in the region after they graduate. Why? One of the reasons is quality, safe roads. They don’t have to worry about traffic jams, they don’t have to worry about congestion,” Hummel said.
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State leaders in attendance called on lawmakers in Madison to prioritize funding for these roads to ensure safety for everyone in Wisconsin.
City leaders say they will continue voicing to the state the importance of prioritizing investment in Oshkosh highways.
