February 3, 2025

By Lane Kimble

Smart planning and construction cost savings helped save Wisconsin taxpayers money over the past six months.

WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman’s twice-yearly report to the Transportation Projects Commission (TPC), released last Friday, notes those factors reduced construction estimates on Major Program projects by $49.7 million.

Projects with cost savings included the I-41 freeway expansion between Appleton and De Pere, I-43 north of Milwaukee, and US-51 near Madison.

Beyond that, the February TPC report did not contain much new information.  Boardman says WisDOT is working to complete the environmental process and begin final design on the stretch of US-51 running between Highway 30 and I-39/90/94 in Dane County, which the TPC approved in December.

The big ticket item the TPC approved late last year – a multi-decade, $4 billion expansion of I-39/90/94 between Madison and Wisconsin Dells – still needs to be included in the upcoming state budget to proceed.

A group of associations, chambers of commerce, trade unions and businesses formed the Central Wisconsin Interstate Alliance in support of the project last year.

WTBA will monitor both the governor’s initial proposal (expected Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 7 p.m.) and work the Joint Finance Committee and Legislature does on the budget throughout the spring and summer.

Members will receive timely updates as they come available.