July 2, 2026

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, according to the latest report from TRIP, a national transportation research non-profit.

That report looks at the overall condition of the country’s freeway network, which hit 70 years old this week.

Wisconsin’s 878 miles of interstate highways count for a small fraction of the 115,000 total miles of roads across the state, but they’re critical to all facets of life, from economic growth to food, healthcare and leisure. America’s freeway system carries 24% of all vehicle miles traveled each year.

While only about 2% of the Wisconsin’s interstate miles are in “poor” condition, another 11% are rated “mediocre,” according to TRIP’s report.

“While it remains the workhorse of American travel… the Interstate Highway System is suffering from severe wear and escalating congestion,” TRIP’s executive report notes. “To meet future demands, the system urgently requires sweeping modernization, capacity expansion, and foundational reconstruction.”

The report says there is a $196 billion backlog in interstate construction needs nationwide. This comes as lawmakers are working on a new five-year Surface Transportation Bill to replace the Bipartisan Infrastructure law, which expires in September.