Two state transportation departments are taking different paths toward the same goal: better roads delivered more efficiently.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) announced a new performance-based maintenance contract covering more than 800 lane miles in Shelby and Fayette counties, according to a news release from the agency.
The five-year, $60 million contract was awarded to DCS Asset Maintenance, LLC, and includes major routes such as Interstates 40, 55, 240 and 269, along with State Routes 300 and 385. The agreement took effect in January, with field work set to begin April 5.
Under the performance-based model, the contractor must meet specific standards set by TDOT. The company will handle routine work such as mowing, litter pickup, pothole repairs, sweeping, drainage improvements, guardrail and sign repairs, graffiti removal and snow and ice response. The contract also includes 24/7 incident support.
TDOT Commissioner Will Reid said in the announcement that the partnership is designed to deliver “cleaner, safer, and more reliable roadways” while allowing state crews to focus on long-term infrastructure improvements.
TDOT also noted that DCS has established three operational facilities in Memphis and is hiring locally and working with area subcontractors.
Wisconsin Expands Design-Build Authority Statewide
In Wisconsin, Gov. Tony Evers signed Senate Bill 461 — now 2026 Wisconsin Act 104 — into law on March 20, giving the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) broader authority to use alternative project delivery methods.
The law moves the state beyond its traditional design-bid-build model and makes permanent what had been a limited pilot program for approaches such as design-build, according to WisDOT.
Design-build allows engineers and construction teams to work together from the start of a project, rather than in separate phases. WisDOT said this can help streamline timelines, encourage innovation and better manage complex projects.
Under the new law, the previous six-project cap on design-build is removed, and WisDOT may use alternative delivery methods for projects totaling up to $300 million per fiscal biennium. The legislation also establishes a standardized selection process with a technical review committee to align with federal regulations.
WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman pointed to earlier pilot projects, including bridge replacements on WIS 130 in Lone Rock, as examples of how design-build helped address environmental and scheduling challenges.
The department said expanded authority will allow it to deliver projects more efficiently while reducing construction impacts for communities.
The Big Picture
Tennessee is concentrating on maintaining existing highways through performance-based contracts, while Wisconsin is changing how it delivers major construction projects. Together, the moves reflect a broader effort by state DOTs to find practical ways to stretch transportation dollars and make roads more reliable for drivers.
Sources: The Tennessee Department of Transportation, WisDOT
