$174 million to improve Wisconsin roads

Thursday morning Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDot) announced $174 million in state funding to complete just over 1,000 projects in the next five years.

Projects were chosen based on need and recommendations from counties, municipals, towns and offices through the Local Roads Improvement Program (LRIP).

That’s in addition to the $200 million coming from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that will support more that 150 projects to improve Wisconsin’s roads and bridges.

“My administration has been committed to fixing the darn roads since day one, and together, I’m proud we have improved more than 7,400 miles of road since 2019, including more than 3,700 miles of locally owned road and 1,780 bridges across the state,” said Gov. Evers. “This investment through our Local Roads Improvement Program builds upon our work making sure Wisconsin’s infrastructure is ready to meet the demands of the 21st Century and will help improve seriously deteriorating roads, streets, and highways in our local communities and the quality of life for folks across our state.”

“We have a unique program in which projects are led and handled by local governments,” said WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson. “They drive these roads every day and are in the best position to know what needs to get fixed and how to get it done. We value our partnership with these communities and, together, we are building a transportation system for the next generation.”

Wisconsin’s final biennial budget features $4 million more for LRIP and an additional $100 million for supplemental fund for county trunk highways.

Additionally, LRIP also includes the newly created Agricultural Roads Improvement Program (ARIP). In June 2023, Gov. Evers signed 2023 Wisconsin Act 13 to expand the LRIP to include agricultural road improvement projects by creating the ARIP. Weeks later, in July , Gov. Evers signed the 2023-25 biennial budget, which provided $150 million for the ARIP to improve transportation infrastructure that provides access to agricultural lands or facilities.

In July, Gov. Evers and WisDOT announced nearly $50 million in state investments through the ARIP, or Agricultural Road Improvement Program, to help support 37 projects across 28 Wisconsin counties.