September 25, 2026
WTBA joins CBG to raise $10k for veterans at annual golf outing
By Lane Kimble
WISCONSIN DELLS -- Steve Baas has never had a hole-in-one. He came within a foot of being a hero Thursday. “That was scary good,” Baas said as he walked up to his ball, sitting just…
Read More
September 25, 2026
Construction worker killed in Madison hit-and-run
By Lane Kimble
MADISON -- A construction worker died in a hit and run crash on Madison’s east side Thursday. It happened near Pflaum and Alder roads around 1:10 p.m. Madison police say the driver left the scene,…
Read More
September 24, 2026
New TRIP report identifies significant funding shortfall putting pressure on Wisconsin’s road maintenance, Majors and Megas
By Lane Kimble
Wisconsin faces a double-whammy that’s costing drivers and the impacting the state’s economy. Nearly half (42%) of Wisconsin’s major state and local roads are in poor or mediocre condition, but WisDOT and communities don’t have…
Read More
September 18, 2026
WisDOT’s preliminary budget request asks for half-billion dollars moved up into 2027-29
By Lane Kimble
WisDOT wants $499.5 million moved up into next year’s state budget to keep the I-94 East-West expansion in Milwaukee on schedule. Current plans to let the project’s East Leg and Stadium Interchange during the 2029-31…
Read More
September 16, 2026
Season-long work zone safety campaign wraps up with safety message surrounding I-41 completion near Wauwatosa
By Lane Kimble
Drivers can enjoy another key stretch of freshly rebuilt Milwaukee-area interstate thanks to WTBA members. WisDOT celebrated crews on Wednesday putting the finishing touches on more than two miles of rehab work on I-41 from…
Read More
September 11, 2026
Wisconsin awards 42 grants to build new electric vehicle charging stations
By Lane Kimble
Wisconsin’s small but growing fleet of electric vehicles will have several dozen new places to charge up, eventually contributing some funding to the transportation budget. WisDOT and Gov. Tony Evers announced Tuesday the state is…
Read More
September 10, 2026
Routine maintenance inspections on Leo Frigo bridge next week
By Lane Kimble
WisDOT’s Bureau of Structures will take a closer look at the Leo Frigo Bridge in Green Bay next week as part of routine inspections. Crews and drone operators will be on and around the bridge,…
Read More
September 4, 2026
NEW PODCAST: Bringing America to Wisconsin’s American Club
By Lane Kimble
Most WTBA conferences and conventions happen in the middle of winter, when the construction season has wound down due to snow, ice and cold. That won’t be the case when hundreds of industry leaders from…
Read More
September 3, 2026
Applications now OPEN for WTBA of Tomorrow scholarships
By Lane Kimble
Receiving a WTBA of Tomorrow Scholarship can legitimately change a young person’s life, relieving a ton of financial pressure as they complete their degree. The next batch of potentially life changing awards is open to…
Read More
September 3, 2026
House approves Continuing Resolution, giving lawmakers until Dec. 11 to work on federal budget
By Lane Kimble
Reauthorization of the five-year surface transportation spending plan will need to wait at least until winter. The House on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a continuing resolution to fund the federal government at existing levels through Dec.…
Read More
September 3, 2026
MKE airport receiving $14.2 million from FAA to rehab taxiways
By Lane Kimble
Wisconsin's largest airport will receive millions of dollars from a federal grant. The FAA announced Thursday that Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) is receiving $14.2 million to build and maintain its taxiways. The grant disbursement…
Read More
September 2, 2026
Associate Council to begin sharing industry expertise articles in October
By Lane Kimble
You responded, now we intend to deliver. That’s the mindset from the WTBA Associate Council, which will soon launch a monthly article focused on various areas of industry interest in the WTBA Weekly Update. The…
Read More
September 1, 2026
Wisconsin, Minnesota leaders break ground on Blatnik Bridge replacement
By Lane Kimble
DULUTH, Minn. -- Major construction to replace the Blatnik Bridge between Superior and Duluth doesn’t begin until next year, but the ceremonial first shovels of dirt turned this week. Gov. Tony Evers and WisDOT Secretary…
Read More
August 28, 2026
State announces $19.7 million in grant awards for municipal road, infrastructure projects
By Lane Kimble
Nearly two-dozen cities, villages and towns across the state are getting some extra funding to fix roads and utilities. The state announced 20 Community Development Block Grant-Public Facility awards last week totalling $19.7 million. Winners…
Read More
August 27, 2026
DWD offering workforce training grants for all employers
By Lane Kimble
Companies looking to bolster their workforce can apply now for state Department of Workforce Development grants. The Wisconsin Fast Forward grants reimburse employers for customized occupational training of unemployed, underemployed and existing workers. Grants range…
Read More
August 21, 2026
I-94 East-West tour gives WTBA members chance to demonstrate challenges of working on state’s highest-profile project
By Lane Kimble
MILWAUKEE -- More than 2.1 million fans have gone to see the Brewers at American Family Field so far this season. Jordan Swanson knows plenty of them are also watching his work. “The interchange is…
Read More
August 19, 2026
Antigo Construction founder George Shinners passes away, funeral set for Aug. 27
By Lane Kimble
WTBA regrets to inform you that George Shinners passed away Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026 after a brief battle with cancer. Shinners, 87, founded Antigo Construction Inc. in 1978 and grew it into an international business…
Read More
August 18, 2026
Hometown Discount: Oakes shows lawmakers how proximity, recycling save money during Racine project tour
By Lane Kimble
RACINE -- A.W. Oakes & Son generally keeps its fleet of easy-to-spot, bold yellow trucks within a one-hour radius of the home office in Racine. “We kind of pride ourselves on being that neighborhood contractor,”…
Read More
August 15, 2026
I-894 resurfacing wins AASHTO Midwest Region award, eligible for national prize
By Lane Kimble
An innovative, time-saving, and safety-ensuring approach to repaving a Wisconsin freeway has earned WisDOT and its contractors some national recognition. The American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) selectedthe multi-year I-894 resurfacing project in…
Read More
August 14, 2026
Blatnik Bridge renderings, designs unveiled
By Lane Kimble
The new Blatnik Bridge linking Superior to Duluth, Minnesota will look similar to the existing one with some much-needed upgrades and design improvements. MnDOT, WisDOT and contractors unveiled renderings of the designs Wednesday night. The…
Read More
August 7, 2026
Quick and Quiet: Musson Bros. shows lawmakers advantages to full road closure during WTBA tour in Germantown
By Lane Kimble
GERMANTOWN -- The intersection of Highway 145 and County G in Washington County was about as quiet as a construction zone can be Thursday afternoon. A mini excavator sat still while a few workers took…
Read More
August 7, 2026
WisDOT releases conflict of interest information ahead of next Design-Build project
By Lane Kimble
Contractors and consultants now have guidance on what qualifies as a conflict of interest in future Design-Build projects. WisDOT recently published a document detailing what would make a firm ineligible to participate. You can review it…
Read More
August 6, 2026
WTBA court filing seeks clarity on claims
By Lane Kimble
WTBA has filed a "friend of the court" brief in an appeals case, questioning whether WisDOT can reject contractor claims outright by asserting the Wisconsin Constitution doesn’t allow them. Last year, a Milwaukee Circuit Court…
Read More
August 6, 2026
More funding, shifted let schedule necessary to avoid two-year delay on I-94 East-West
By Lane Kimble
Significant utility relocation issues could delay the massive I-94 East-West expansion in Milwaukee by two years and cost tens of millions more. WisDOT hopes to avoid that by starting construction on other elements of the…
Read More
July 31, 2026
Port Power: Walbec Group companies show lawmakers broad skillsets during WTBA-led tour
By Lane Kimble
GREEN BAY -- The ground under your feet quakes and the river water pulses, much like the scene in Jurassic Park when the T-Rex is about to emerge. But it’s a different beast that’s helping…
Read More
July 30, 2026
State doles out $30 million to fix small bridges, culverts across Wisconsin
By Lane Kimble
More than 100 small bridges across rural Wisconsin will get critical repairs, with hundreds more still in need of work. Gov. Tony Evers and WisDOT announced Thursday the state awarded nearly $30 million to towns,…
Read More
July 29, 2026
Wisconsin ranked 31st for road conditions and spending in national report, falling 5 spots
By Lane Kimble
Wisconsin ranks in the bottom-half of the country for its overall highway conditions and how money is spent to fix them. At 31st out of 50, Wisconsin’s biggest areas of concern in The Reason Foundation’s…
Read More
July 28, 2026
Mashuda worker severely injured in Highway 60 crash
By Lane Kimble
A crash in a work zone severely injured a WTBA-member construction worker and damaged a home in southeast Wisconsin. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office says a 48-year-old woman driving an SUV crossed the centerline on…
Read More
July 24, 2026
Too close for comfort: Contractors demonstrate risks of tight working conditions at NC Region safety event
By Lane Kimble
WISCONSIN RAPIDS -- The orange barrels blocking off one lane in each direction along Highway 54 already sit very close to traffic. Tony Straseske picked one up and moved it even closer. “That’s where it…
Read More
July 23, 2026
DWD warns employers of sophisticated workers’ compensation scam
By Lane Kimble
Scammers are targeting injured workers in Wisconsin, tricking them into paying “fees” while claiming they’ve been awarded money. The state Department of Workforce Development says workers receive an email telling them to participate in an…
Read More
July 23, 2026
Upcoming webinars to detail manufactured products general waiver changes
By Lane Kimble
The Federal Highway Administration will detail upcoming changes to the now-terminated Manufactured Products General Waiver. FHWA is holding two webinars to walk attendees through those changes as we approach a benchmark this fall. Beginning with…
Read More
July 22, 2026
Doing the dirty work: WTBA of Tomorrow summer meeting combines gubernatorial deep-dive with off-road adventure
By Lane Kimble
MAUSTON -- Before digging into the dirt and dust of the ATV trails around central Wisconsin for some teambuilding, the WTBA of Tomorrow dug into what’s become a messy primary campaign for governor. The council’s…
Read More
July 17, 2026
Haze, humidity, and good humor aplenty at 2026 WTBA Golf Outing
By Lane Kimble
Canada’s wildfires and a North American heat dome may have interrupted another group’s day, but Mother Nature couldn’t stop WTBA members from crafting their own memories out of the summer’s biggest event. In fact, Deep…
Read More
July 15, 2026
Work Zone Safety Task Force gets update on pilot programs, new safety techologies
By Lane Kimble
Data is in for about half of WisDOT’s Work Zone Safety Pilot program projects as we hit the halfway point of the construction season. The department now aims to collect metrics from its full assortment…
Read MoreJuly 10, 2026
FHWA updates Form 1273; WisDOT to include in July letting
By Lane Kimble
Contractors working on federally funded transportation projects should soon see better clarity in complying with non-discrimination, prevailing wage, and safety policies moving forward. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recently released an updated version of its…
Read More
July 9, 2026
Evers salutes construction industry in final ‘Pothole Patrol’
By Lane Kimble
For the final time during his eight-year tenure, Gov. Tony Evers put on a reflective vest, grabbed a shovel, and filled in some potholes across Wisconsin this month. The governor’s annual Pothole Patrol was always…
Read More
July 2, 2026
U.S. freeway system needs significant investment, expansion new TRIP report finds
By Lane Kimble
Drivers in Wisconsin depend more and more on an interstate system that’s aging and needs some love and care. Wisconsin ranked 12th nationwide for the greatest increase in freeway traffic (46%) between 2000 and 2024,…
Read More
July 1, 2026
WTBA member-led work lands on ARTBA’s “250 Projects That Built America”
By Lane Kimble
They may not be quite as iconic as the Golden Gate Bridge or Route 66, but Wisconsin’s Zoo and Marquette interchanges are getting a nationwide shoutout this week, nonetheless. The freeway interchanges are two of…
Read More
June 29, 2026
This week in 1956: Eisenhower signs Federal Aid Highway Act, creating U.S. interstate system
By Lane Kimble
As we prepare to celebrate the nation's 250th, we're also recognizing another "birthday" of sorts this week. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Federal Aid Highway Act into law on June 29, 1956. With the…
Read More
June 26, 2026
‘A tall task’: Crews give WTBA, media up-close look at challenges on Wisconsin River Bridges
By Lane Kimble
POYNETTE -- There’s really only one way to appreciate the size and scope of the freeway bridges being built over the Wisconsin River right now. You need to see them from below. “You wish you…
Read More
June 24, 2026
On-site visit allows contractors, WisDOT to talk through Flagger Safety Pilot study progress
By Lane Kimble
NEW HOLSTEIN -- It looks simple enough. Line up cars behind a stop sign, radio back and forth with someone on the opposite end of the work zone, and turn that sign to “slow” once…
Read More
June 23, 2026
Kraemer/Ames joint venture wins Blatnik Bridge rebuild; public update coming in Sept.
By Lane Kimble
A joint venture will get to lead the work replacing the critical Blatnik Bridge linking northwest Wisconsin and Minnesota. Ames and Kraemer North America joined forces to win the Design-Build project, coming in with an…
Read More
June 11, 2026
New Podcast: How a ‘never say never’ approach steered Board President Mike Hahn to new adventures
By Lane Kimble
Mike Hahn never intended to get into road construction. He started college by studying to become an industrial engineer. But along the way, one thing led to another. Each relationship led to a new one.…
Read More
June 10, 2026
New WisDOT gas station video campaign features Vinton Construction safety director
By Lane Kimble
A new video playing at dozens of gas stations in Wisconsin this summer aims to reach drivers before they reflexively hit “mute” on the pump. WisDOT’s 30-second public service announcement alerting drivers to the ongoing…
Read More
June 9, 2026
MnDOT breaks down how upcoming Blatnik Bridge let decision will play out
By Lane Kimble
Simply having the cheapest price won’t guarantee winning the massive Blatnik Bridge replacement project when it’s awarded later this month. MnDOT will need to do a little extra math. The department is currently reviewing and…
Read More
June 5, 2026
WisDOT seeking comments on new four-year Freight Plan
By Lane Kimble
Wisconsin’s roads, freeways, and bridges allowed trucks to transport more than $350 billion worth of freight in 2023. WisDOT is working to update its State Freight Plan to ensure that critical economic driver continues to…
Read More
June 4, 2026
Associate Council brainstorms ways to further connect, provide extra value for WTBA members
By Lane Kimble
Between equipment sales and rentals, surety bonding, legal expertise, accounting services and much more, the WTBA’s 134 Associate member companies have a lot to offer. The Associate Council wants to make sure WTBA members know…
Read More
June 3, 2026
WTBA membership grows with addition of two large companies
By Lane Kimble
The two newest WTBA members are some big names you’re likely to recognize. The WTBA Board of Directors unanimously approved Walsh Construction and Baird-Private Asset Management’s membership applications during its bi-monthly meeting Tuesday. Walsh is…
Read More
June 1, 2026
‘It’s a huge deal’: Northwest Region supports contractors with aerial speed enforcement
By Lane Kimble
EAU CLAIRE -- A squad car appearing in the rearview mirror makes most drivers anxious. A State Patrol squad sitting near a new traffic pattern on I-94 this spring? That was a welcome sight for Jason…
Read More
May 23, 2026
First-ever safety tailgate unites contractors, consultants, WisDOT at Am Fam Field
By Lane Kimble
MILWAUKEE -- Cars and trucks filled a parking lot outside American Family Field as the smell of brats and hot dogs wafted through the air, despite the NL Central-leading Brewers having an off day Thursday.…
Read More