April 5, 2024

By Lane Kimble

MADISON, Wis. — Change is hard.

The new utility compensable delay bill the WTBA helped usher into law this legislative season is no exception to that rule.

However, WisDOT says it’s committed to ensuring that change works as designed: quickly and fairly compensating contractors while, hopefully, reducing conflicts down the road.

“This is a complete 180 from where our staff have been administering these projects for – most of the folks that are out in the field – for their entire careers,” WisDOT Bureau of Project Development Deputy Director Brandon Lamers told the WTBA Board of Directors.

Lamers was one of eight WisDOT administrators who spoke Tuesday with the Board for nearly an hour during its bi-monthly meeting.

The Department inserted the compensable delay language into project specs beginning with January’s letting. Since then, WisDOT has been training staff on how to handle delays, especially those working in the field.

Later this month, WisDOT plans to post its PowerPoint training guide on the HCCI websiteso contractors and the public have a better understanding of the process, too.

“If there’s one thing that we do during this course of the year is that we over communicate, not only internally but also when we’re working with you folks on our projects,” Lamers said.  “This is going to be a change for all of us and we want to make sure that we’re communicating on both sides.”

Transportation System Development Administrator Rebecca Burkel noted WisDOT is working with engineers and utilities as much as possible in the study and design process to get relocations done properly.

“It costs less if we can do it early so we don’t have to deal with it during construction, so we are focusing a lot of effort on that,” Burkel said.

She added it’s crucial for contractors to document conflicts as best they can and as early as possible to ensure swift compensation. WTBA members with questions should contact Matt Grove.