August 1, 2025

By Lane Kimble

GREENWOOD, Wis. — You might have mistaken State Sen. Jesse James and State Rep. Karen Hurd for newspaper reporters Thursday afternoon.

They fired off question after question about staging, cost, safety measures, cranes and drill technology as they looked at work being done to build a new bridge across the Black River in Greenwood.

“Zero.  I didn’t know anything (about building bridges) and I’m not afraid to admit it,” Sen. James said with a grin.

“As legislators, we become knowledgeable on a little bit of everything and learning more about our road process and fixing our roads and bridges is important.  You get the knowledge and a little bit of a handle so you can somewhat talk smart about it.”

Lunda Construction is replacing the nearly 100-year-old overhead truss bridge on County Highway G in Clark County with a three-span prestressed girder version.  Work began in June and will mainly be done in November.

The visit was part of WTBA’s efforts to bring lawmakers behind the barrels on sites in their own districts. The association has held four visits this season with at least two more on the calendar still to come.

“This is very worthwhile,” Rep. Hurd said.  “When we sit in Madison, we have people come into our office and they tell us, but when you’re actually out on a site and see it, then you have a better understanding.”

Regional Manager Josh Simonson and Superintendent Jason Sterry were happy to answer as many questions as the lawmakers could dish out.  Simonson is on the WTBA of Tomorrow council which visited Hurd and other lawmakers’ offices in April during the 2025-27 budget process.

Simonson was excited to bring the lawmakers into his “office” this time.

“It’s a great opportunity,” Simonson said.  “They can see the fruits of the work that they do, as well, in securing the funding for these projects.  It means a lot to us and our guys.”