Letter of Support: Investing in the I-94 East-West corridor Is Investing In Jobs, Safety, and Quality of Life
Madison – The Wisconsin Building Trades Council strongly supports Gov. Evers’ announcement to seek the revival of public input surrounding the I-94 East-West corridor. “This important stretch of infrastructure is key for economic activity, commerce, and job growth throughout the region. The hold on this project by the Walker administration has cost Wisconsin Taxpayers greatly in the form of unsafe infrastructure, missed economic opportunities, and loss of jobs.” said Jake Castanza, Executive Director at WBTC.
Construction of the I-94 East-West corridor extension will provide a net benefit to the local economy and improve the quality of life for Wisconsinites in the form of Safer Roads, More Jobs, and Greater Employment Opportunities – In addition to over 1,000 construction jobs, this project enhances middle-class opportunities throughout the state. In a time that COIVD-19 has devastated employment opportunities, WisDOT expects the I-94 East-West corridor to employ between 6,000 to 10,000 people. By increasing mobility in the corridor, it will greatly aid in sustaining and producing jobs for redevelopment opportunities that are desperately needed. Equally important, the project will create an opportunity for minority-owned businesses. Over $100 million in construction contracts were awarded to Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) on the Zoo Interchange and can expect similar outcomes with this project. Finally, investments in infrastructure is an investment in the future workforce in the construction industry through apprenticeship training.
Castanza said “Union construction workers and contractors privately reinvest their wages into training and apprenticeship programs for better, high-skilled workers providing the safest and highest quality construction in the state of Wisconsin.”
“The bottom line is this project is about valued job creation, this project is supported by the Wisconsin Building Trades Council and the 40,000 journeymen, journeywomen, and apprentices throughout the state of Wisconsin.” Said Castanza, “This will put Wisconsin to work.”
