19Mar2026

Letter to Editor of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel    

Subject: Cutting Vegetation along Highways for better Views of Billboards

Highways should be managed for transportation, not as advertising corridors

Legislation recently passed in the state capital would give billboards along highways in Wisconsin greater visibility – and the ability to obliterate more beautiful scenery than ever before. Senate Bill 525 would allow clear-cutting of vegetation on public right-of-way along highways to provide clearer views of outdoor advertising signs. Trees and shrubs could be removed for a distance of 500 feet along the highway in the vicinity of the sign.     

Trees and shrubs are valuable vegetation that provide safety benefits to motorists that use the highways. Under management of the Department of Transportation, trees are used as snow, wind and light screens, and to reduce erosion They provide a beautiful green barrier to occupants of properties bordering the right-of-way. They provide relaxing beauty for motorists.

Trees are planted by the DOT to serve as living snow fences using taxpayer dollars. It is not good public policy to allow cutting down snow fences. Other provisions of these bills are objectionable because they reduce supervision of tree removal by the DOT.

Billboard owners have no inherent right to have a sign or large billboard be visible from a highway. The purpose of our highways is public transportation, and they should be managed for that purpose, not as advertising corridors.

 This bill has been advanced by well-funded and aggressive outdoor advertising lobbyists. We hope that the governor intends to veto it. 

Charles Mitchell, Wauwatosa