Brady PieperThe Wisconsin Department of Transportation is making $100 million available to local municipalities to improve, develop and maintain roads that support the state’s $1.6 billion agriculture industry.
The funds come from the Agricultural Roads Improvement Program (ARIP), which was created in June 2023 as an expansion of the Local Roads Improvement Program. The state’s 2023-25 budget, approved in July of 2023, allocated $150 million to the ARIP.
“This program is about more than just improving infrastructure,” said Gov. Tony Evers said in a press release. “It’s about supporting our farmers and producers and their success, strengthening our economy, and ensuring that the agricultural industry remains strong and prosperous for generations to come.”
The ARIP operates as a reimbursement program, funding up to 90% of a project’s costs. Local governments are required to cover at least 10% of the costs associated with the project. Sponsors for the program are allocated a maximum of two applications in this cycle.
Project highways, defined as local roads or minor collectors, must provide access to agricultural lands or facilities that produce agricultural goods or forest projects with at least one agricultural producer using the road. These highways also must currently be defined as class B due to structural deficiencies or impose annual commercial vehicle weight limitations.
The deadline to apply through the AccessGov portal is Sept. 30. Awards are expected to be announced by the end of 2024. More information, resources and a roadmap for the ARIP second solicitation cycle can be found on WisDOT’s website.
This funding opportunity is the state’s second round of agricultural road funding this year. The first round opened in February, and awards were announced on July 12 with just under $50 million committed to 37 projects in 28 counties. Some of the largest awards for road projects include:
- $3.9 million to Lincoln County for improvements to County Trunk Highway YY. In February, Lincoln County imposed temporary weight limits for commercial vehicles due to conditions on the roadway.
- $3.6 million to the Town of Scott for improvements to Copper Road.
- $3.4 million to the Town of Greenwood for improvements to Kouba Valley Road.
Photo by Preston Bousley on Unsplash
