Funding opens for improvement of roads and bridges
The first round of Agricultural Roads Improvement Program (ARIP) grants, funded by the 2025-27 Biennial Budget, open for application, Mon., Oct. 6. This application period will distribute $50 million, in ARIP funding, to support projects across the state, focused on improving rural roads and culverts, that are critical to moving and transporting, agricultural and forestry products, efficiently and effectively across Wisconsin.
Agricultural transport is part of a $116 billion industry, which is critically important for the economy, and a core part of Wisconsin culture and heritage.
“We’ve made a lot of progress over the past six years, improving Wisconsin’s roads, but our work is not done,” said WisDOT secretary Kristina Boardman. “There’s still tremendous need to update our rural roads, not only for our agricultural industries, but for the safety of the people who live in these communities.”
Housed under the Local Roads Improvement Program (LRIP) at the WisDOT, the ARIP is a reimbursement program, that may pay up to a maximum of 90 percent of eligible project costs, with the balance of the eligible costs funded by the local unit of government.
Unsuccessful project applicants from round one will have the opportunity to advance their application for award consideration in round two, where $70 million will be available for eligible projects. Round two solicitation is anticipated to begin in early calendar year 2026.
To be eligible for funding, projects must meet the following criteria:
• 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 project is solely for the improvement of a bridge or culvert, the bridge or culvert is 20 feet, or less, in length, and is not eligible for funding under a federal program that provides funding for bridge improvements.
• The highway, bridge or culvert, provides access to agricultural lands or facilities used to produce agricultural goods, including forest products and is used by at least one agricultural producer.
• The highway, or highway on which the bridge or culvert is located, is designated as a class “B” highway, because of structural deficiencies or is subject to a posted weight limitation, at least annually.
• 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.
• The highway, bridge or culvert is maintained by a political subdivision.
Applications for round one must be submitted to the WisDOT, by Mon., Dec. 15. Projects awarded in the first round are anticipated to be announced in spring 2026.
