$30 Million Awarded to Improve Wisconsin’s Rural Bridges and Culverts

You could soon see the repair or replacement of aging rural bridges and culverts in your area. Governor Tony Evers says $30 million in state funding is being awarded to more than 100 communities across Wisconsin. It’s meant to improve the local roads considered critical for farmers, businesses, and rural residents while improving safety to support agricultural equipment, emergency vehicles, and commercial traffic.

The funding comes through the new Local Small Structures Improvement Program, which was created as part of Wisconsin’s 2025-27 biennial budget. The budget dedicated $150 million to the Agricultural Roads Improvement Program. It includes the small structures initiative.

“Every pothole filled, road fixed, and bridge and culvert repaired is essential to ensuring we have safe, reliable roads all across our state for locals and visitors alike, and so much of that good work is done at the local level, which is why supporting our local governments in their efforts to bolster this critical infrastructure is more important than ever,” Governor Evers said. “These investments will make a difference for communities that otherwise would not have received any funding. Thanks to the investments we secured in our most recent biennial budget, this brand new program is making sure over 100 communities are getting money directly where folks need it to fix the darn roads and keep our local economies humming.”

Many projects in almost every region will receive funding

• Northwest Wisconsin: More than $7.5 million for 39 projects in communities including Stockholm and Aurora, along with Eau Claire, Douglas, Jackson and Sawyer Counties,
• North Central Wisconsin: Nearly $5.5 million for 20 projects, including the areas of Dexter, Polar, Pine Lake, Iola and Larabee.
• Northeast Wisconsin: More than $6.8 million for 14 projects in communities including Cascade, Forestville, and Mishicot, as well as Outagamie County.
• Southeast Wisconsin: More than $869,000 for three projects in Waterford, Sharon, and Muskego.
• Southwest Wisconsin: More than $9 million for 25 projects in communities including Oregon, Adams, Farmington, and Viroqua, as well as Dodge, Grant, Green, Lafayette and Monroe Counties.

Wisconsin has now awarded funding for 221 rural road improvement projects in 64 of the state’s 72 counties since the rural infrastructure programs were established.