The opportunity?
Gravel Run Road contains a critical stretch of road in Lafayette County, starting at County Road F and continuing to Faymont Road. This road is a major artery for many agricultural producers. These producers include farmers who move cattle from winter housing to summer pastures, haul harvested feed from the field to farm storage for later use, and transport equipment for spring planting and fall harvesting. Dairy producers, fertilizer dealers, and manure haulers also use this road.
Lafayette County posts weight restrictions on Gravel Run Road during late winter and early spring when the ground is thawing to prevent damage to the road. These weight limitations impact agricultural producers and transportation companies moving products to various locations, forcing them to use longer routes or reduce load sizes.
What is the “fix,” and how does it benefit the ag industry and local community?
A $230,000 project to upgrade Gravel Run Road will increase the productivity and profitability of farmers and agricultural producers. Transporters will be able to use the road year-round without weight posting.
When Gravel Run Road is used as a shortcut, it removes 3.5 miles from the alternative north route through the unincorporated town of Fayette, which has speed limit restrictions around popular tourist destinations. Without access to Gravel Run Road, ag producers are forced to use the road through Fayette, the larger city of Darlington, or alternatives, causing delays and unsafe conditions. By using funds to remove weight restrictions from Gravel Run Road, the township aims to build a safe road for ag producers.
What makes the investment possible?
The 2023-25 budget 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 Lafayette County, one of 37 projects in 28 counties awarded funding.
The Town of Fayette will receive $207,000, or 90% of the total project cost, for the $230,000 Gravel Run Road project. This will enable improvements on Gravel Road to the standards necessary to support the current level of year-round traffic without spring weight restrictions.
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?
The timeline for the Gravel Run Road project is being developed. WisDOT anticipates announcing the round two ARIP project awards in late December.
