May 18, 2026
WisDOT eyeing 2028 start date for massive I-39/90/94 expansion project
By Lane Kimble
Work to modernize, expand and improve safety along a long stretch of freeway that millions of people depend on could begin in 2028. WisDOT released those details and some other nuggets in its spring edition…
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May 16, 2026
WTBA connects with Duffy, Congressional leaders during ARTBA Federal Issues Program
By Lane Kimble
A trip to Washington, D.C. to meet with federal industry leaders carried even greater importance for WTBA staff this week, with Congress punting once again on discussing a new five-year surface transportation bill. The current…
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May 15, 2026
Construction worker in critical condition after crash at DeForest worksite
By Lane Kimble
DEFOREST -- A construction worker helping guide traffic through a work zone in Dane County is in critical condition after a crash. Madison-area media report a driver in a box truck hit the worker as…
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May 13, 2026
Environmental committee digs deep on PFAS, concrete slurry during biannual meeting
By Lane Kimble
WTBA’s Environmental Committee tackled about a dozen topics during its bi-annual meeting but two in particular stood out: PFAS and concrete slurry. The committee heard from a duo of legal regulatory experts regarding PFAS. Godfrey…
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May 8, 2026
Baas at CBG Conference: Best sustainable transportation funding option is ‘the one that can pass’
By Lane Kimble
MADISON -- Time was running short. You don’t keep the Green Bay Packers’ Chairman Emeritus waiting in the wings for long. That’s when inspiration struck for Steve Baas, who was looking for a way to…
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May 7, 2026
Statewide inventory reveals 1,600 small bridges, culverts in poor-to-severe condition
By Lane Kimble
More than 1,600 small bridges across Wisconsin are in poor or severe condition, with some needing immediate replacement. That’s a key part of the findings from a multi-year “small bridge inventory” WisDOT recently wrapped up. WTBA…
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May 7, 2026
WisDOT launches season-long work zone safety pilot on 10 projects
By Lane Kimble
Extra sets of eyes and cameras will keep close tabs on 10 construction projects this season, with the hope of making work zones safer across the state. WisDOT walked contractors, project managers, and consultants through…
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May 4, 2026
Forward Traffic crew member killed by drunk driver in Madison hit and run
By Lane Kimble
MADISON -- Two parents lost their son, three siblings lost their brother, and the construction industry lost one of its own in a tragic work zone crash late last week. Carlos Lopez was hit while…
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May 2, 2026
Dave Brose, EMCS president, named to ACEC National College of Fellows
By Lane Kimble
A lifetime of hard work, leadership and serving others has led to a new milestone for a longtime WTBA member. Dave Brose, EMCS Inc. president, was inducted into the American Council of Engineering Companies National…
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April 30, 2026
Fruits of Their Labor: Cranberry Interchange tour shines light on Design-Build benefits
By Lane Kimble
TOMAH -- The Cranberry Interchange gets its nickname from the vast array of surrounding marshes that grow the tart fruit, but there’s nothing bogged down about this construction site. Crews are rapidly replacing two bridges,…
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April 28, 2026
State doles out $135 in LRIP, opens second ARIP application window
By Lane Kimble
More than $135 million will help counties, cities and towns across Wisconsin fix more than 300 roads. Gov. Tony Evers and WisDOT announced this year’s batch of Local Road Improvement Program (LRIP) funds Wednesday. The money…
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April 27, 2026
Conlin named new Northwest Region deputy director
By Lane Kimble
A new leader in WisDOT’s Northwest Region carries decades of experience on many notable projects in the area. Paul Conlin was named Northwest Region Deputy Director on Monday. Conlin had been the region’s Project Development…
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April 26, 2026
Baas engages with UW-Platteville students on transportation funding challenges
By Lane Kimble
PLATTEVILLE -- References to John Cusack holding a boombox above his head in “Say Anything” and El Guapo in “Three Amigos” left some college students scratching their heads last week. But when WTBA Executive Director…
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April 24, 2026
Coordination between contractor, WisDOT leads to safer Highway 59 work zone
By Lane Kimble
WHITEWATER -- There isn’t a lot of space to work underneath the Highway 12 bridge in Whitewater. Matt Gregg looked at it, looked at his project plans, and knew there was an issue. “When we’re…
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April 24, 2026
WisDOT to add expedited proposal to May let due to ‘rapidly deteriorating pavement’ on Hwy 70
By Lane Kimble
Next month’s WisDOT bid letting will include an expedited let to speed up much-needed repairs in northern Wisconsin. The addition is to fix rapidly deteriorating pavement along 17 ½ miles of Highway 70 in Sawyer…
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April 24, 2026
Moment of Silence at Wisconsin work zone sends loud and clear message
By Lane Kimble
WEST BEND -- An asphalt paver and nearby roller stood motionless on a job site Thursday morning. In front, 18 crew members all stood silent as well, staring east at the rising sun. For seven…
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April 23, 2026
Operating Engineers, CBG hold annual Construction Workers Memorial Walk & Service
By Lane Kimble
MADISON -- The hum of bagpipes and the pop of a snare drum started up, hitting Terry McGowan like a wave. “It is very emotional. Bagpipes bring out the emotion in me to begin with,”…
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April 22, 2026
NEW PODCAST: Milwaukee Co. Supervisor pushes road safety through community outreach
By Lane Kimble
Sky Z. Capriolo wasn’t sure where to begin when she won election to the Milwaukee County Board in 2024. The possibilities to help her community seemed endless. “You quickly learn that around every corner is…
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April 22, 2026
WTBA lights Milwaukee’s Hoan Bridge orange in honor of Work Zone Awareness Week
By Lane Kimble
MILWAUKEE -- One of Milwaukee’s most recognizable lakefront landmarks glowed brightly this week, serving as a beacon to remind drivers to slow down and drive cautiously. WTBA worked with Light the Hoan to illuminate the…
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April 21, 2026
‘Don’t just see a vest, see a person’: Vinton worker calls for respect from drivers during statewide safety kickoff event
By Lane Kimble
APPLETON -- When Chad Heyduk looks at his coworkers–the men and women who he works to keep safe–he sees his family. “We’re not just family owned, but all of our employees are part of the…
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April 17, 2026
Small ball, big fun: Nearly 300 WTBA members enjoy Annual Brewers Outing as crew wins 2-1 (Photo gallery!)
By Lane Kimble
Bunts, a squeeze and a sacrifice fly. It took teamwork, skills, and selflessness for the Brewers to beat the Blue Jays 2-1 on Thursday afternoon, which just so happens to be the way WTBA members…
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April 10, 2026
WisDOT shares early FY27 quantity projections with WTBA Board, provides DBE & Design-Build updates
By Lane Kimble
Concrete and bridge deck quantities could drop significantly in the upcoming state fiscal year, but there’s more to the story when you dig into the numbers. WisDOT’s early projections for FY2027 show concrete square yardage…
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April 8, 2026
WTBA welcomes four new members following April Board meeting
By Lane Kimble
What’s in your wallet? Four companies can now answer: A (metaphorical) WTBA membership card. The WTBA Board of Directors unanimously approved adding American Excelsior Company, Capital One, Etna Supply Company, and Give ‘Em a Brake…
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April 7, 2026
Upcoming meetings to provide update on I-794 construction study
By Lane Kimble
A pair of upcoming meetings this spring should give us a better sense of whether WisDOT aims to improve, repair in-place, or remove the I-794 corridor in downtown Milwaukee. The Department is planning public involvement…
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April 2, 2026
$45M John Nolen bridge replacement job on-schedule thanks to ‘great’ work with WTBA contractors, PE says
By Lane Kimble
MADISON -- After 23 weeks of drivers in Madison seeing lane closures, heavy machinery, and longer commute times, Dan Bauknecht sees something else: Progress. “That’s about as good as you can get. I’m very happy…
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I-39/90/94 headed into final designs as WisDOT launches new website detailing 67-mile project
By Lane Kimble
It will still be several years before any machines begin busting up pavement and earthmovers haul millions of tons of base course, but the I-39/90/94 modernization reached an important milestone this spring. The work transitioned…
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April 1, 2026
Applications open for approx. $1 million in workforce training grants
By Lane Kimble
Onboarding and training skilled workers takes time and money. The state of Wisconsin aims to help employers with the latter, offering nearly $1 million in grants this spring. The Department of Workforce Development is now accepting…
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April 1, 2026
WTBA of Tomorrow gains political insights, preps for summer site tours during quarterly meeting
By Lane Kimble
It’s the political equivalent of a lifelong asphalt paver sitting next to a diehard concrete guy. Oil and water, right? No, if WTBA has taught us anything: two opposite sides can still find plenty of…
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March 30, 2026
SHOW OF SUPPORT: Register for TDA’s ‘Turnout for Transportation’ roundtables in May
By Lane Kimble
Free breakfast and the chance to talk about the importance of our industry with people who need to hear it? Not a bad way to spend one morning next month. A series of public discussions…
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March 27, 2026
Evers signs permanent Design-Build program into law, concluding years-long effort
By Lane Kimble
MADISON -- After years of debate, compromise, and having to go back to the drawing board, Mike Hahn didn’t need to wait long to receive a symbolic gift. Gov. Tony Evers turned and immediately handed…
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March 26, 2026
WisDOT, contractors preparing for 400+ projects during 2026 season
By Lane Kimble
From Major and Mega freeway work continuing in the Fox Valley and Milwaukee to smaller undertakings in places like Rhinelander and Cumberland, you can expect to see state highway projects in every county in Wisconsin…
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March 25, 2026
Consultant Council takes up loaded agenda during first quarterly meeting of 2026
By Lane Kimble
MILWAUKEE -- There's never a shortage of topics to discuss, problems to solve, and choices to weigh when the WTBA Consultant Council convenes. Just take a look at what their agenda covered Tuesday afternoon for…
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March 20, 2026
USDOT obligates $1.05 billion for Blatnik Bridge
By Lane Kimble
The largest and most crucial piece of the Blatnik Bridge replacement project came through this week. The federal government obligated $1.05 billion in funding to replace the aging structure. USDOT Secretary Sean Duffy announced the news…
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March 19, 2026
From Rink to Ready Mix: NHL’s Sutter stars during exciting WRMCA Conference in AZ
By Lane Kimble
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Rich Sutter played 13 seasons in the NHL, scored 149 goals, and never backed down from a fight. Still, he felt a few nerves stepping in front of a conference room full…
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March 13, 2026
Browser-based Bid X platform replacing AASHTOWare software beginning with April 14 let
By Lane Kimble
Contractors bidding on WisDOT-let projects will need to fully switch over to the browser-based BidX process starting with the April 14 let. WisDOT has worked with Infotech to make this transition, which eliminates the need…
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March 13, 2026
Work Zone Safety Task Force gets update on pavement marking safety pilots for 2026
By Lane Kimble
Moving operations for pavement marking will get some additional safety attention during the 2026 construction season. WisDOT plans to pilot joint enforcement operations with State Patrol in its Southwest Region epoxy lets. The Department is…
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March 11, 2026
I-94 East-West switchover begins March 17
By Lane Kimble
Traffic along the I-94 East-West project in Milwaukee is about to get a little tighter next week. WisDOT plans to switch eastbound freeway traffic between 70th Street and Zablocki Drive across the median to the…
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March 6, 2026
WisDOT finalizes Trans 401 updates
By Lane Kimble
WisDOT recently submitted its final Trans 401 rewrite to the state Legislature. The rule--which was last changed in 2002--includes updates to ECIP reviews, Temporary Support Activity (TSA) sites (previously known as Selected Sites), and recycling…
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March 6, 2026
Stating Their Case: Baas, Hahn meet with Duffy in D.C. to talk transportation funding
By Lane Kimble
WASHINGTON -- Steve Baas has made this trip many times before. Still, this year’s annual flight to Washington, D.C. early Wednesday morning carried some added weight for WTBA’s Executive Director, with a significant goal in…
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March 5, 2026
NEW PODCAST Annual Convention keynote speaker teaches ‘Extreme Ownership’
By Lane Kimble
If you’ve ever felt like the world is against you, nothing is going your way, and things are falling apart, Rob Jones would like a word or two. Jones lost both his legs when he…
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March 4, 2026
US 51 reconstruction may include shift to accommodate DCRA runway extension
By Lane Kimble
One of Wisconsin’s newest Major Program projects could include a design change that would shift a U.S. highway and extend an airport runway 800 feet. WisDOT is proposing the changes as part of its US…
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March 3, 2026
Engineering Excellence awards showcase members’ wide range of skills, specialties
By Lane Kimble
A downtown Milwaukee street is safer, a Sheboygan County dam better protects and enhances a nearby marsh, and UW Badgers have a better place to train at the Kohl Center thanks to WTBA-member engineering firms’…
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February 26, 2026
‘Truly an honor’: Hahn elected new WTBA Board President
By Lane Kimble
RIO MAR, Puerto Rico -- Standing alone on a stage in front of 200 people Wednesday night, Mike Hahn recognized he got there by standing on the shoulders of giants. Hahn listed names like Michels,…
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February 24, 2026
WTBA Scholarship Auction raises $219,625, sailing past Zignego’s goal
By Lane Kimble
The past few WTBA/TEF Scholarship Auctions hit some incredibly high, record-setting figures, surpassing $275,000 each. Dan Zignego purposely set his goal a little lower this year, landing on $200,000. “There’s a psychological sweet spot of…
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February 14, 2026
Half-filled glasses and romcom references: How WTBA’s Baas drove home importance of transportation funding at Concrete conference
By Lane Kimble
PEWAUKEE -- Are you a glass-half-full or glass-half-empty kind of person? To Steve Baas, they’re not mutually exclusive. That’s why the WTBA Executive Director brought two glasses filled to the halfway mark with construction cone-colored…
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February 6, 2026
Wisconsin’s DBE recertification process to begin Feb. 16
By Lane Kimble
Four months after the federal government halted the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program, WisDOT is ready to begin reviewing and recertifying DBEs. The Office of Business Opportunity and Equity Compliance says it will start accepting recertification…
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February 6, 2026
Latest TPC report estimates I-39/90/94 expansion to cost $3.6 billion
By Lane Kimble
Wisconsin’s newest Majors Program project will require a lot of work, money, and time to finish. Initial estimates for the massive I-39/90/94 expansion and reconstruction between Madison and Wisconsin Dells put the overall cost around…
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February 5, 2026
WisDOT updates ASP-6, effective for Feb. 10 letting and beyond
By Lane Kimble
Next week’s letting will include more than a dozen updated specs. WisDOT released an updated ASP-6 this week, which is effective beginning with the February 10 letting. Spec changes include guidance on drones, pavement marking,…
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February 4, 2026
Facing big need to fix small structures, state opens applications for $30 million in grants
By Lane Kimble
More than 1,600 small bridges and culverts across Wisconsin badly need repairs or replacement. Some of those so-called “small structures” will start to get some help thanks to funding in the 2025-27 state budget. Wisconsin began…
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February 3, 2026
No need to keep quiet: Online silent bidding starts Monday ahead of Annual Convention’s LIVE auction
By Lane Kimble
Whether you’re hoping to catch a Brewers/Cubs rematch of the NLDS this summer, sip on some expertly crafted and aged bourbon, or snag a deal on a hydraulic excavator, we’re pretty sure you’ll find something…
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