Submitted by the Office of Gov. Evers
MADISON, WI – Gov. Tony Evers, together with WisDOT, announced on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, the first round of Agricultural Roads Improvement Program (ARIP) grants funded by the 2025-27 Biennial Budget will open for application on Mon., Oct. 6, 2025. 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 the state.
The 2025-27 Biennial Budget signed by Gov. Evers included $150 million to continue this highly successful program created by Gov. Evers in 2023. $30 million of this investment will be specifically targeted to bridge and culvert repair through the separate Local Bridge and Culvert Improvement Program, to help improve and repair deteriorating culverts and bridges across the state. WisDOT is developing those program materials which are expected to be available in the coming months.
“Ensuring our farmers and producers can safely and efficiently transport their products is critical to the success of Wisconsin’s $116 billion agricultural industry, which is critically important for our economy and a core part of our culture and heritage,” said Gov. Evers. “Since I created the Agricultural Roads Improvement Program in 2023, this program has been incredibly successful in ensuring those who make up Wisconsin’s agriculture industry have safe and reliable infrastructure, supporting 91 projects in rural communities across our state, and I was proud to secure this additional funding to continue this critical program in our bipartisan budget so we can ensure Wisconsin agriculture remains on top.”
In June 2023, Gov. Evers signed 2023 Wisconsin Act 13 to expand the Local Roads Improvement Program to include agricultural road improvement projects. Weeks later, in July 2023, Gov. Evers signed the 2023-25 biennial budget, which provided $150 million for ARIP to improve the transportation infrastructure that provides access to agricultural lands or facilities. Since its creation, ARIP has funded 91 projects across the state that are helping improve and repair rural roads in 48 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties.
“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. […]
Housed under the Local Roads Improvement Program at WisDOT, ARIP is a reimbursement program that may pay up to a maximum of 90 percent of total eligible project costs, with the balance of the eligible costs funded by the local unit of government.
The 2025 round one ARIP solicitation application period will distribute $50 million in ARIP funding. 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 due to 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.
WisDOT will release a video tutorial for the first solicitation on the WisDOT ARIP Program Webpage on Mon., Oct. 6, 2025. WisDOT will notify municipalities regarding the availability of ARIP training opportunities in the future, along with any other important dates and deadlines.
Applications for round one must be submitted to WisDOT by Mon., Dec. 15, 2025, at 5 p.m. Projects awarded in the first round are anticipated to be announced in Spring 2026.
Local government officials with questions about ARIP can contact WisDOT ARIP Program Manager Hillary Pelton at hillary.pelton@dot.wi.gov or 608-261-4443.
For information about additional investments in the 2025-27 biennial budget to improve infrastructure and support Wisconsin farmers and agriculture and to see this full press release go to: content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIGOV/bulletins/3f33d03.
