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Two new bridges would greatly improve emergency response time

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This map shows the locations of two new bridges proposed for the Kickapoo River in Crawford County. (Map courtesy of the Crawford County Highway Department)

 

By Ted Pennekamp

 

In his grant application to the State of Wisconsin Division of Emergency Management, Crawford County Highway Commissioner Dennis Pelock states that two proposed bridges to span the Kickapoo River would improve response time to emergencies during floods by one to one-and-a-half hours.

“During recent flood events over the past several years, emergency services cannot be provided to area residences and businesses in a timely manner,” said Pelock. “Response time to provide these needed services in time of need, is increased from eight minutes to 60 to 90 minutes to reach locations where emergencies exist. With the effect of climate change, new elevation records have literally caused Crawford County to be completely cut in half. To provide services from one side of the Kickapoo River to the other, emergency services needed to leave Crawford County to respond to the location on the other side of the river. To access either side of the Kickapoo River, fire, ambulance, first responders, sheriff, public works etc., need to access the location in need by traveling into Vernon County to the north and Grant County to the south.”

The grant application states it is hoped that one or both of these bridges will be approved by Dec. 18, 2018 or by Feb. 18, 2019.

One bridge would span the Kickapoo River on County B in the town of Clayton between Highway 27 and Highway 131. The other would be at County S in the town of Haney between Highway 27 and Highway 131.

The only alternatives to the problem, Pelock says, are to approve of one or both bridges, or to do nothing. According to figures provided by Jewell Associates of Spring Green, a bridge on County B would cost an estimated $4.6 million. A bridge on County S would cost $6.6 million. If the grant is received, approximately 75 percent of the cost of the bridge project would be paid for through state and federal funds. The remaining 25 percent would be split by the county and the municipalities.

In his application, Pelock includes numerous graphs from the National Weather Service showing the severity and frequency of Kickapoo River floods in recent years, as well as heavy precipitation events.

Public meetings are being scheduled to discuss the proposed bridges.

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