Summary
STATEMAP-supported mapping in Wisconsin is directly protecting public safety and supporting state infrastructure planning. Recent projects in southwest Wisconsin provide new geologic data that helps mitigate slope failures and landslides threatening major transportation corridors along the Mississippi River.
STATEMAP
- Crawford County (SW Wisconsin):
- New bedrock geologic mapping supports the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) in addressing slope stability and landslides along State Highway 35.
- WI-35 parallels the Mississippi River through a narrow gorge where the highway is perched on modified and undercut slopes, creating hazards for motorists.
- Mapping allows WisDOT to more accurately evaluate risk, plan slope stabilization, and adjust infrastructure designs.
- Outcome: Geologic mapping reduces hazard risks and informs long-term transportation planning along one of Wisconsin’s most critical north–south corridors:
Impact for Wisconsin:
- Enhances public safety for motorists by reducing landslide risk along WI-35.
- Provides WisDOT with reliable data to guide infrastructure investment in challenging terrain.
- Provides a direct link between historic data preservation and modern exploration.
- Demonstrates how modest federal investments in mapping yield high-value outcomes for transportation resilience and hazard mitigation.