Evers, DOT announce second round of grants to upgrade agricultural roads

Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced a second round of grants to fund upgrades to agricultural roads across the state. 

A major push of farming groups ahead of the last legislative session, the bipartisan program has already sent $50 million to 28 Wisconsin communities to increase the weight capacity of roads and bridges that serve rural communities. The second round of funding will spend about $100 million, according to a news release.

A number of Wisconsin roads and bridges have posted weight limits due to declining quality. Farmers have complained those weight limits increase costs by forcing extra trips. Dairies are forced to fill milk trucks halfway to comply with weight limits, increasing costs of fuel and labor to make several trips while making those trips more hazardous because liquid sloshes around more in a half-full tank. 

The state’s Agricultural Roads Improvement Program (ARIP) pays up to 90% of a construction project’s cost to a local government. 

“Our state’s agricultural industry is part of our way of life and culture here in Wisconsin, and farmers and producers are a driving force who help ensure our state and our economy continue to thrive,” Evers said in a statement. “This program is about more than just improving infrastructure — 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.”