June 16, 2023

By Lane Kimble

Farmers and agricultural suppliers in Wisconsin could soon see the countless roads they depend on get some much needed improvements.

The state Senate and Assembly both approved SB247 on Wednesday, sending the bill to Gov. Tony Evers’ desk.

The bill would create an Agricultural Road Improvement Program (ARIP), which would provide $150 million in one-time funding to repair local roads that directly service farms and agriculture properties.  Qualifying roads, bridges, and culverts need to be posted for weight.

The state does not currently have a record of how many roads need work, but Wisconsin Farm Bureau’s Executive Director of Government Relations told the WTBA Board last week he hopes the new program would naturally begin to generate such a list.

State Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) and State Rep. Travis Tranel (R-Cuba City) were the co-authors on the bill.