Wisconsin

July 10, 2019

Grade: C

Road Conditions

According to the latest TRIP analysis of FHWA data, Wisconsin's overall road conditions are moderate to fairly positive.

  • 18% of state roads are considered to be in poor condition.
  • 19% of state roads are considered to be in mediocre condition.
  • 18% of state roads are considered to be in fair condition.
  • 46% of state roads are considered to be in good condition.

Deficient roads cost Wisconsin drivers $6 billion annually from wear and tear on vehicles, wasted fuel due to congestion and costs of crashes on roadways. Of the state’s 115,000 miles of drivable roadways, more than one-third are in fair or poor condition. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation reports that an additional $180 million is needed per year over the next 10 years just to maintain current pavement conditions. Since gas tax indexing to inflation was abolished by the State legislature in 2006, Wisconsin’s gas tax has been set at 30.9 cents per gallon (base). Wisconsin’s transit network is largely dependent on federal grant programs, which have seen reductions since 2012. The state’s bridge network faces $1.4 billion in repairs, but these structures are in better position to cover costs with unique revenue measures, such as electric vehicle registration fees.

Bridge Conditions

According to the latest FHWA data, Wisconsin's overall bridge conditions are fairly positive. 6.7% of state bridges are considered to be in poor condition, 41.7% are in fair condition, and 51.6% are considered to be in good shape, ranking the state as 27th in the nation according to the American Road Transportation Builders Association's deficiency rank (which takes into account the District of Columbia, as well as Puerto Rico).

There are 14,271 bridges in the state, comprising 7,083,682 sq meters of overall bridge deck area.

Funding Report

Apportionments under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act:

2019 Total: $812,589,995.00

2020 Total (estimated, before post-apportionment set-asides, penalties, and sequestration): $833,277,970.00

2021: Reauthorization of 2020 funding levels through September 1, 2021

State Gas Tax (including federal 18.4 cpg and any ancillary fees): 51.30 cents per gallon

Apportionment (est.) from "Highway Infrastructure Programs" in Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, dated Dec. 2020 (source: AASHTO): $187,985,664

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