Archives for June 2025

All-time-high tourism in 2024 generates $1.7 billion in state, local revenue

June 10, 2025 by Lane Kimble

More than 114 million people visited Wisconsin in 2024, helping the state smash not only one but three tourism-related records.

Tourism in 2024 had a $25.8 billion overall economic impact and generated about $1.7 billion in state and local revenue, Gov. Tony Evers’ office announced this week.

“That’s money that goes right back into our state and our communities,” Evers said in his weekly radio address. “That’s a big deal!”

The tourism industry also supports about 182,000 full- and part-time jobs, Wisconsin Public Radio reported.

WTBA applauds the myriad departments, lawmakers, chambers of commerce, marketers, and workers who helped Wisconsin reach new record-setting figures, while also recognizing the thousands of men and women in the construction industry who help ensure visitors can safely get to and from their destinations.

New ASP-6 provisions issued, effective Nov. 2025

June 9, 2025 by Lane Kimble

WisDOT has issued the latest ASP-6 provisions that will be effective with the November 2025 Letting.

This list (linked HERE) is subject to change, with updates provided in the future. There will be no Standard Specification Update this year (all updates will be included in ASP-6).

Please review and feel free to contact Matt Grove at mgrove@wtba.org if you have any questions or comments.

The current version of ASP-6 is available online on the department’s Highway Construction Contract Information (HCCI) website at: https://wisconsindot.gov/hccidocs/contracting-info/asp-6-effective-with-Nov-2025.pdf.

Feds announce $5.4 billion for bridge repair projects across U.S.

June 8, 2025 by Lane Kimble

Expect to see a lot of work on improving bridges across the country over the next few years.

FHWA announced more than $5 billion in available federal funding for the “tens of thousands of bridges across the country… in dire need of repair,” the USDOT said.

The vast majority, about $4.9 billion, is from the Bridge Improvement Program open to all state, local and tribal governments. Project awards are capped at $3 billion each with a floor of at least $50 million.

The other $500 million announced is limited to bridge repairs in 18 “rural” states, including Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota.

“Bridges are an essential part of the nation’s infrastructure because of the vital economic role they play in moving America’s commerce,” Monday’s USDOT release said. “These grants will help address the critical need to move people and goods across the nation, connecting local communities and economies, strengthening national supply chains and improving critical corridors for freight travel.”

Secretary Sean Duffy noted the new administration removed “woke Biden-era requirements” from the program applications, including the need to consider greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, and inclusive economic development in applications.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, America is building again,” Duffy said.

Nearly 42,000 bridges across the U.S. are in “poor” condition, according to ARTBA’s latest report. About 2,200 bridges in Wisconsin need repairs.

Sophomore from small western-Wisconsin school ready to make important work zone safety impact

June 7, 2025 by Lane Kimble

Fewer than 300 students attend the entire K-12 Wauzeka-Steuben School District in western Wisconsin. But at least one of those students has committed to making a big impact in road safety.

Alexa Martin, a sophomore at Wauzeka-Steuben High School, won the May 2025 Work Zone Safe Wisconsin monthly scholarship drawing this week.

Martin, 14, took the online course because it was required through her driver’s education class. She’ll begin the “behind the wheel” portion soon.

“I am just learning how to drive, but the more I read, the more I learned,” Martin told WTBA. “The part of the online course that will stick with me are the stories of the workers and what happened to them.”

WTBA and its partners launched Work Zone Safe Wisconsin in April 2024, providing an innovative and modern approach to work zone education. Wisconsin became the second state in the country to utilize Work Zone Safe.

The free course is available to all driving schools and school districts in the state, helping them comply with a state law requiring at least 30 minutes of work zone-specific education for every driver’s ed class.

More than 2,000 students have successfully completed the program so far.

Martin is grateful to receive the $500 scholarship, which is generously sponsored by the Wisconsin County Highway Association. She plans to continue her education after high school, but is currently undecided on a major.