Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) announced in a recent press release nearly $50 million in state investments to help support 37 projects across 28 Wisconsin counties. The projects are aimed at helping support Wisconsin’s farmers, producers, and agricultural industries by improving rural roads and bridges that are critical to moving and transporting products, crops, and livestock, among others, efficiently and effectively across the state.
This is the first round of funding awarded through the new Agricultural Roads Improvement Program (ARIP), which was established by 2023 Wisconsin Act 13 and funded in the 2023–25 biennial budget signed by Gov. Evers.
An additional application period for the remaining $100 million in ARIP funding will open later this summer.
To be eligible for funding, projects needed to meet the following criteria:Â
-
The project highway, or the highway where the bridge or culvert is located, is functionally classified by the department as a local road or minor collector;
-
The highway, bridge, or culvert provides access to agricultural lands or facilities used to produce agricultural goods, including forest products;
-
The highway, bridge, or culvert is used by at least one agricultural producer;
-
The highway is designated as a class “B” highway due to structural deficiencies or is subject to a posted weight limitation at least annually; and
Advertisement -
After the improvement, the highway will not be designated as a class “B” highway and will not be subject to a posted weight limitation other than under extraordinary or emergency circumstances.
More information about ARIP is available here.
