Lane Kimble

A permanent Design-Build program in Wisconsin is within reach after a pair of votes this week.

Both the state Senate and Assembly transportation committees unanimously approved a bill that would dedicate $300 million for Design-Build projects every state budget moving forward.

The program would bring to fruition years of hard work between WTBA, ACEC and WisDOT, while helping save taxpayer dollars and shorten some project timelines.

The bill (SB 461 / AB 509) replaces the existing Design-Build pilot program–which is limitedto six total projects–with permanent authority for WisDOT to use alternative delivery methods. It also includes annual cost index adjustments, simplifies rules for project selection and awards, and strengthens overall project oversight.

Elise Nelson, WTBA Director of Government Affairs, testified in support of the bill during committee hearings late last month.

“In general, this is how government should work: applying lessons learned from an incremental pilot to expand a program according to a robust collaboration between, in this case, the department and stakeholders,” Nelson said in her testimony.

The full Senate and Assembly could vote on the bill as soon as next week.  The Senate is in session Nov. 18 and the Assembly follows Nov. 19.

Legislative approval would still require Gov. Tony Evers’ signature.

Replacing four bridges along I-94 in Jefferson County could prevent devastating flooding that closed the freeway for several weeks.

WisDOT plans to use the Design Build method on the Crawfish and Rock River bridges with Requests for Qualification (RFQ) opening next Friday, Nov. 14.

The project will involve replacing a total of four structures (two at each river crossing), raising them to surpass the 100-year flood event level. Historic floods in 2008 led to a full westbound shutdown of I-94 for two weeks at the bridges.

The scope of work may also involve soil improvements and a retaining wall addition. You can view the project’s preliminary plans HERE.

The winning firm must demonstrate how it will maintain traffic throughout the construction process while ideally saving taxpayer dollars and time. SOQs will likely be due in January and WisDOT aims to award the project in June 2026.

The Crawfish/Rock River bridges project is one of six in the initial Design-Build Pilot program.

WTBA’s Elise Nelson and Jodi Jensen testified Oct. 28 and 29 in support of a bill that would launch a permanent Design-Build program. Committees in the Senate and Assembly will vote on the bill next week.

An in-depth dive into the latest federal rule changes, state environmental and regulatory challenges, expert analysis on what Tuesday night’s elections on the east coast could mean in Wisconsin moving forward, a look at a new WTBA regulatory tracking webpage, and much more.

The WTBA Environmental Committee packed plenty into its biannual meeting Wednesday in Madison.

The group heard from ARTBA’s VP of Regulatory Affairs Prianka Sharma, who covered topics such as Waters of the United States (WOTUS) and NEPA rules, several pending Congressional bills with construction-related implications, and particulate matter 2.5 reviews.

WisDOT’s Jeremy Ashauer covered various endangered species in Wisconsin, Trans 401, and updates to ECIP forms, which the department is seeking contractor feedback on.

Contract Lobbyist Eric Petersen shared insights into the political climate both looking at the previous night’s election wins for Democrats in places such as New York City and Virginia, as well as how the 2026 races for governor and control of the Legislature are shaping up in Wisconsin.

The Environmental Committee is chaired by Jim Mertes of the Walbec Group and includes about two-dozen members from across the industry.  WTBA General Counsel Jodi Jensen oversees the group.

Jensen detailed a new webpage on the WTBA site where she will update members on regulations and rules she continually tracks.

The committee’s next meeting is set for May 2026.