9-5-13 lawmakers say hwy 23 expansion project back on schedule

Six Republican state lawmakers from Fond du lac and Sheboygan counties say the Highway 23 expansion project between Fond du lac and Plymouth is back on schedule.    State Senators Joe Leibham and Rick Gudex and representatives Steve Kestell, Dan LeMahieu, Jeremy Thiesfeldt and Mike Endsley say the Wisconsin Department of Transportation has restored the start date for construction on Highway 23 to 2015.   The lawmakers say after receiving dozens of calls and emails from local residents about the delay they met with DOT secretary Mark Gottlieb to air their concerns.  In a joint statement the legislators said  "the four lane expansion improvements are important to Sheboygan and Fond du lac counties and the rest of the state for both safety and economic reasons."    A press release says the revised schedule is still subject to resolution of pending federal litigation and receipt of a record of decision from the Federal Highway Administration early next year.  It also assumes no reduction in funding in the major highway program in the next two state budgets.