The opportunity?
Within the Town of Sylvester in Green County, Ladwig Road – just 2.1 miles long and 20 feet wide – is designated as a class “B” highway with the corresponding weight restrictions. When farmers and producers move agricultural products along this route, they must either take a detour of almost six miles to remain on roads with no weight restrictions or make multiple trips. Either way, they incur increased labor and fuel costs and wear and tear on their vehicles.
What is the “fix,” and how does it benefit the local agriculture industry and the community?
Upgrading Ladwig Road to a high-quality, Class A road will increase the productivity and profitability of area farmers and agricultural producers. For farmers and others currently using the longer state highway route to move fully loaded semi-trucks and tankers, this $359,000 project will decrease mileage by 65%, reducing labor and fuel costs, agricultural vehicle mileage, and equipment damage.
At least 13 producers, employing more than 130 people and with combined annual sales of more than $36 million, could use Ladwig Road as a main route. After the improvement, the town projects the number of agriculture-related trips could decline by more than 17,000 loads annually as fewer trucks and tankers run at reduced load weights.
An improved Ladwig Road will benefit local farmers and producers by allowing them to move their products more efficiently. Town residents will also benefit from fewer heavy vehicle trips and less mileage within their community.
What makes the investment possible?
Thanks to a historic $7 billion budget surplus going into the 2023-25 budget cycle, the state established the $150 million Agricultural Roads Improvement Program (ARIP) to fund projects to improve rural roads, bridges, and culverts negatively impacting Wisconsin farmers, producers, and the state’s agricultural industry. In July 2024, WisDOT announced the first round of funding with the Town of Sylvester, one of 37 projects in 28 counties awarded funding. View the $ 50 million ARIP Round 1 project awards list here.
First-round ARIP applications greatly exceeded available funding, reflecting the need for improved rural roads statewide.
What’s next?
$100 million is available in the second round of ARIP funding, with application materials released July 31. Applicants can roll over their unselected first-round applications to the second-round solicitation. WisDOT anticipates announcing the round two ARIP project awards in late December or early January.
