The Wisconsin & Southern Railroad is having a very good month.
First, on November 3, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) announced that Governor Scott Walker approved at $4.5 million grant to cover 80 percent of the reconstruction costs of bridge B-316. The bridge, near Wauzeka, Wisconsin, is 1,107 feet long and will be the WSOR’s third major structure spanning the Wisconsin River.
WisDOT plans to provide a loan of $564,730 in addition to the grant. The WSOR match the loan to cover the remaining reconstruction costs. WisDOT cited the project as “necessary to improve the safety and operational efficiency of the Prairie du Chien to Madison rail line and reduce maintenance costs,” as well as being important to sustaining economic growth in the area.
Following this announcement, Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Dave Ross, joined the WSOR Team to view the railroad first-hand. He climbed aboard a locomotive with trainmaster Tyler Crawford, conductor Alex Blum, and assistant vice president of government and industry relations Ken Lucht. This was Ross’s first trip to the WSOR since being appointed to the secretary position by Gov. Walker in January 2017.
The group escorted Ross from Madison to McFarland, inspecting rail infrastructure along the way. The Secretary was able to compare older generation jointed rail with newer modernized continuous welded rail, and to compare the recently rehabilitated Madison Subdivision to an upcoming project to rehabilitate a portion of the Reedsburg Subdivision. During the ninety-minute trip, Crawford and Blum also talked about railroad crossing safety, trespassing, the WSOR’s service plan, and Customer base in the greater Madison area.
“The WSOR is grateful for our partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and is looking forward to the exciting challenges that lie ahead,” said Lucht. “We thank Secretary Ross for his strong support for freight rail and economic development here in the state of Wisconsin.”
WisDOT is one of the largest state agencies, with about 3,500 employees and an annual budget of more than $3.5 billion. The department supports all modes of transportation, including state highways, local roads, railroads, public transit systems, airports, harbors and bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
Pictured above from left to right: Tyler Crawford, Alex Blum, Dave Ross, and Dave Simon.