WAOW - Newsline 9, Wausau News, Weather, SportsMarshfield couple evicted over highway 10 project

Marshfield couple evicted over highway 10 project

by Colby Robertson

MARSHFIELD (WAOW) -- The highway 10 expansion project connecting Marshfield and Stevens Point has forced more than 50 home owners to relocate.

The DOT says they followed all the legal requirements to acquire the property needed for this project. But one Marshfield couple in now homeless after getting evicted.

Judi and Milton Luchau bought this Marshfield home nearly 24 years ago. Judi Luchau says, "We wanted a home with a first floor laundry and a home that we could grow old together in. This was our forever home."

Unfortunately their forever home stands in the way of the DOT's highway 10 expansion project.

DOT Project Supervisor Matt Bronson says, "We're going to be expanding that to four lanes and we're going to be constructing interchange at County A and 13 at the location of their residence."

The DOT offered nearly 50 home owners compensation to relocate. The Luchau's said no way. This is their home and their right. Now they're getting evicted.

Judi Luchau says, "The state can afford to put a multimillion dollar exit ramp through my backyard. They just paved highway A with stimulus money and now they want to tear it up again and make highway A into an overpass that's as high as a telephone pole."

The DOT Project supervisor says they've studied this project since 1989. All options they looked at went through this home.

Bronson says, "All the alternatives that we had at that location for the interchange of A did impact this property and would require us to purchase the entire property as we are."

Bronson says they now own the Luchau's property and will move forward with the project. The Luchau's forced to pack up their things and leave behind their forever home.

Judi Luchau says, "This is a violation of our civil rights. We are homeowners. We have the right to have a home. We shouldn't be evicted. They're taking our home against our will and we feel our civil rights are being violated by that."

The Luchau's have the right to appeal this eviction. Until then, the DOT will move forward with the project which is expected to start in June.

Online Reporter: Colby Robertson