Construction season turns political in Wisconsin

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -  Road construction has become political this year.

At a public meeting recently, the DOT Secretary suggested many small road projects go unfinished because the resources go to mega projects, like Foxconn.

It has some lawmakers saying this is further proof that the Foxconn deal is bad for the state.

“I was dumbfounded and saddened honestly,” said Tony Evers, a candidate for Governor.

Evers is criticizing the Governor after the DOT Secretary’s comments.

“That was not only a slap in the face to the people of Wisconsin, but frankly it was disappointing,” said Evers.

But in Milwaukee, the DOT says that's not true.  In fact, one of our biggest road projects is almost done.

“We're off to a fast start this year,” said Mike Pyritz from the DOT.

Pyritz says the Milwaukee area hasn’t lost any resources to the Foxconn project.

“Here in the Southeast region, we are very much on track,” he said.

In fact, the zoo interchange project which has been going on for years is almost finished.

“The orange barrels, by Labor Day weekend, are going to be a thing of the past for the zoo, at least for a while,” he said.

Pyritz says it's common for road projects, no matter where they are, to be delayed or fast tracked depending on need. “Projects get moved up, moved back, changed in scope all the time,” he said.

We reached out to the DOT Secretary and didn't hear back.

The Walker administration has said repeatedly that no money is being taken from other projects to pay for Foxconn.

The DOT in Milwaukee says no projects are being delayed because of it.