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Budget Committee Votes To Proceed With New Wisconsin DOT Building

Plan Calls For Demolishing Current Building, $179M In New Construction

By
Courtesy of Wisconsin State Legislature

Wisconsin lawmakers have cleared the way for a new $179 million office building for the state Department of Transportation.

Legislators on the Joint Finance Committee voted 14-1 to approve the sale of 13 acres of land at the site of the current DOT building in Madison. That will clear the way for the old building to be demolished and a new nine-story building to be built in its place, which will hold DOT offices along with other state agencies.

Some conservatives, including Rep. Dean Knudson, R-Hudson, had issues with the plan, but a cost-benefit analysis found it would save the state money compared to maintaining the old building for years to come.

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“I think given those circumstances, this is really in the best long-term interest of the state,” Knudson said. “But boy, it’s difficult to vote for it, I’ll tell you.”

Knudson called the building a testament to the fact that no matter which party is in charge, government tends to grow. Only Sen. Leah Vukmir, R-Wauwatosa, voted against the plan.