The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill Monday that would let Wisconsin allow trucks over 80,000 pounds currently running on U.S. Highway 41 to continue using the road if it is designated as an interstate highway next year.
The measure, which was passed by a voice vote, now goes to the Senate, where Wisconsin’s two senators, Tammy Baldwin (D) and Ron Johnson (R), introduced a similar measure July 16.
U.S. 41 runs from Milwaukee into Michigan, and the section Wisconsin is seeking to have designated as an interstate stretches 142 miles between Milwaukee and Green Bay, the state’s largest and third-largest cites, respectively.
“What we’re saying is simply that if you can operate now, you can operate in the future,” said Rep. Tom Petri (R), co-sponsor of the bill and chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s highways subcommittee, said following the vote.
Petri and fellow Wisconsin Rep. Reid Ribble (R) introduced the bill in the House on June 13.
“Highway 41 is a huge part of our regional economy, and millions of dollars in commerce depend on a fully-functioning road,” Petri said. “This proposal does not expand truck weights, but simply preserves the status quo so that current commerce is not disrupted.”
