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Rock County roads could benefit from stimulus money

Federal stimulus funding could pay to fix six more roads in Beloit Township, Milton and Janesville next year.

Gov. Jim Doyle proposed funding for the projects in a letter to the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee on Friday.

Sen. Judy Robson, D-Beloit, a member of the committee, said Doyle also is proposing to divide $3 million designated for the Birth to Three program among the state’s 72 counties.

Birth to Three is a county-run early intervention program that serves infants and toddlers who have developmental delays.

Rock County would receive $88,050. Walworth County is scheduled for $51,407.

The six road projects are:

-- Inman Parkway between Highway 51 and County G, Beloit Township, pavement replacement.

-- Cranston Road between Highway 51 and Dewey Avenue, Beloit Township, resurfacing and concrete repair.

-- Tyler Street and South Randall Avenue between Fremont Street and Ruger Avenue, Janesville, resurfacing.

-- Ruger Avenue between Interstate 90/39 and Wright Road, Janesville, reconditioning.

-- High Street between John Paul Road and Highway 26, Milton, resurfacing.

-- Happy Hollow Road between River Road and Highway 51, Rock Township, pavement replacement.

Doyle’s letter did not mention any road projects in Walworth County.

The governor’s office did not list cost estimates for each of the projects because of a desire not to sway the project bids, a spokesman for Robson said. A call to the governor’s office was not returned.

Rock County got the funding in part because it is an economically distressed area, Doyle’s letter indicates.

Robson said the projects will “put people to work, get money circulating in the local economy and improve our infrastructure.”

Doyle’s letter states that some of the projects might not ultimately be funded if they cannot be completed in the timeframe required by the federal legislation.

The projects were picked from among those that local governments proposed for stimulus funding, according to Doyle’s letter.

Doyle asked that the Joint Finance Committee approve the projects quickly so that planning can proceed.

If all the projects are funded, along with earlier projects, Rock County will have received $9.7 million for transportation projects, according to Robson.