Feb. 1, 2017 – Hartford, WI – Bill Schellinger of Hartford and Anne Gehring from Stone House Dairy in Hartford had some real concerns following Tuesday night’s meeting on the proposed Reliever Route. The plan is designed to go through the rural towns of Hartford, Slinger and Addison.
Schellinger and Gehring said trucks traveling at 55 miles per hour, combined with farm equipment on the road and school buses for Addison and Slinger had everyone worried about safety. “We have fender benders now,” said Gehring. “But those will turn into fatalities with those trucks and tractors and speeds at 55.”
According to the No Reliever Route group, “The Reliever route comes at the request of a few large corporations in Hartford based out of the Industrial Park and the city of Hartford. It is a Highway 60 bypass cutting north through farms and the town of St. Lawrence eventually connecting with Interstate 41. The intention is to divert semi truck traffic off of Highway 60.”
The county has projected the cost at $23.9 million. There is no state money available for the project. It’s anticipated Washington County taxpayers will be responsible for funding the project.