Lane Kimble

ARTBA seeks contractor feedback on OSHA Heat Rule ahead of possible Trump admin. decision

April 9, 2025 by Lane Kimble

OSHA’s proposed heat rule may be on ice but hasn’t been thrown out of the freezer just yet.

The American Road and Transportation Builders Association wants your input on the proposal as the Trump administration now controls the rule’s future.

ARTBA released a one-question survey open to its members–especially contractors–to gauge where the industry stands on the matter.

The heat rule would require all companies with 10 or more employees to develop a written heat prevention plan in collaboration with non-managers.

It also would mandate at least one quart of water per hour for all employees on job sites and selecting a designated heat-safety coordinator, among other standards.

Stronger requirements go into effect when temperatures hit 90 degrees and up.

The Biden administration proposed the new requirements before leaving office.

ARTBA and WTBA members have urged the Trump administration to ditch the rule, noting it’s too broad (given the country’s varying climates) and unnecessary, with contractors already placing employee safety at the forefront.

Please take a moment to fill out the survey ASAP.

Work Zone Awareness Week coming April 21; WisDOT holding kickoff event

April 9, 2025 by Lane Kimble

The risk the men and women who build and maintain our roads and bridges face every day became especially apparent in 2024.

Two construction workers from WTBA companies were hit and killed in separate crashes last season. Preliminary data from the Wisconsin State Patrol shows 10 people–many of them drivers–were killed in the more than 2,100 work zone crashes in Wisconsin in 2024.

It’s why WTBA and WisDOT are urging all drivers to pay special attention and care while driving through work zones, not only during this month’s national Work Zone Awareness Week but all season long.

Wisconsin will hold its local 2025 awareness week kickoff event along I-90/94 near Madison on Monday, April 21 at 11 a.m. WTBA members are encouraged to attend.

Please contact Lane Kimble for details if you’d like to show your support.

WTBA has worked with WisDOT to coordinate five regional work zone safety events throughout the 2025 season for the third straight year, helping keep work zone safety top of mind during spring, summer, and fall.

Details about this year’s events will be available as they get closer.

Laying the Groundwork: Baas, Nelson join TDA at D.C. Fly-In for Congressional discussions

April 4, 2025 by Lane Kimble

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The quote is about 2,500 years old but the message is as relevant now as ever.

“Every battle is won before it’s ever fought.”

Duly noted, Sun Tzu.

WTBA put in critical work this week in Washington, D.C., more than a year before Congress needs to reauthorize the five-year plan to pay for our nation’s roads, bridges, and infrastructure.

Executive Director Steve Baas and Director of Government Affairs Elise Nelson joined industry partner Transportation Development Association (TDA) for its 2025 Washington, D.C. Fly-In.

Over the course of two days, they heard from and spoke with a bipartisan assortment of Wisconsin’s delegation including Senator Tammy Baldwin and Congressmen Bryan Steil and Tony Wied.

Wied (R-Green Bay) is Wisconsin’s newest member of Congress and serves on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. He gave Work Zone Safe Wisconsin a shout-out during a hearing in February.

Baas, Nelson, and attendees also met with other Wisconsin Congressional members on Capitol Hill during office visits Thursday.

The fly-in group included WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman and representatives from labor, contractors and local governments.

“Reauthorization may be a year off, but the product Congress delivers in 2026 is going to be informed and shaped by discussions we are having in 2025,” Baas said.

“Events like this ensure we are at the table instead of on the menu as those decisions are made.”

WTBA applauds its partners at TDA for organizing an impactful and busy visit to the nation’s capital, helping keep transportation top of mind among federal decision makers.

New WTBA Board President joins the pod (Episode 2 out today!)

April 4, 2025 by Lane Kimble

Having freshly turned 40, Dan Zignego has already accomplished a lot in his life. He’s happily married, is president of a major player in the concrete paving industry, and just became the new WTBA Board president.

Still, Zignego is driven by one main thing: to be as successful as possible.

How do chickens, ice cream cones and ballroom dancing figure into that calculus? And what does he think about his friends in the asphalt world? Listen to the latest Road Trippin’ With WTBA podcast to find out!

Lane and Steve hit the road to talk with Dan in Zignego’s new Waukesha offices.

You can find this and all other (OK, there’s only one other for now…) Road Trippin’ episodes wherever you get your podcasts. Just search “WTBA.”