If you live in Green Bay, you understand that driving on Shawano avenue as you approach downtown feels like driving a shopping cart on a street made of Legos. Its a terribly uncomfortable ride that is also bad for your vehicle.

Which is why I was happy to see the City Of Green Bay announce they were stepping up to begin repairs on Shawano (story HERE). This initiative should provide some relief.

But I was also angry. Why? Because the Wisconsin Department Of Transportation could have fixed this street much sooner. And they still eventually will.

In 2031. That is correct. Five years from now.

Why? I actually had the chance to ask them this question in person during a town hall (story HERE). And I wasn’t given a clear answer. Myself and others who attended the meeting were just given an assortment of random words and a Powerpoint deck that didn’t address the actual problem.

The road needs to be fixed now. Not in five years.

This is also yet another instance of how Madison is treating Green Bay poorly. Over the past couple of years, we’ve seen them shortchange our court system, shut down services for homeless veterans, and punt projects like Shawano down the road for no apparent reason. All of this while they continue to take your money and throw it into a pots of money for projects all over the state that will get attention before we will.

My reaction to this is simple. Cheer the City of Green Bay and Department Of Public Works, and boo the Wisconsin Department Of Transportation.

Because if you want something done, you do apparently have to do it yourself.