The Agricultural Roads Improvement Program started in 2023 with the passage of Senate Bill 247 (Act 13), providing $150 million in the biennial budget. The program was created within the framework of the existing Local Roads Improvement Program (LRIP) budget to improve highways functionally classified as local roads, or minor collectors, or culverts, that provide access to agricultural lands or facilities used to produce agricultural goods, including forest products.
The most recent 2025-27 budget continued support for this highly successful program with another $150 million investment. From this amount, $30 million will improve and repair deteriorating culverts and small structures.
Since its creation, the program has funded 120 projects statewide, repairing rural roads in 56 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. All told, more than 23.5 million tons of agricultural products, valued at $13 billion, are transported on ARIP-awarded roads each year.
How to Apply for ARIP
If you have a weight-posted road impacting your farm or business, reach out to your local officials and ask them to apply for a grant to upgrade your road. These competitive grants are based on how much the road impacts farming, so a successful application needs to demonstrate the impact the posting has on you.
You can provide your local officials all the information they need to submit a successful application using the Farmer Support Form.
When the next ARIP application period opens, WisDOT will notify municipalities regarding the availability of application materials and deadlines. WisDOT staff will also contact applicants who were not awarded in this current round to allow for the opportunity to easily advance their application for consideration in the next solicitation.
Full applications details are available on the Wisconsin DOT website.
ARIP Eligibility
ARIP is a reimbursement program that may pay up to a maximum of 90 percent of total eligible project costs, with the balance of the eligible costs funded by the local unit of government. To be eligible for funding, projects must meet the following criteria:
- The project highway, or the highway where the bridge or culvert is located, is functionally classified by the department as a local road or minor collector.
- The project is solely for the improvement of a bridge or culvert, the bridge or culvert is 20 feet or less in length, and is not eligible for funding under a federal program that provides funding for bridge improvements.
- The highway, bridge, or culvert provides access to agricultural lands or facilities used to produce agricultural goods, including forest products, and is used by at least one agricultural producer.
- The highway or highways on which the bridge or culvert is located is designated as a class “B” highway due to structural deficiencies or is subject to a posted weight limitation at least one month during the previous year.
- After the improvement, the highway will not be designated as a class “B” highway and will not be subject to a posted weight limitation other than under extraordinary or emergency circumstances.
- The highway, bridge, or culvert is maintained by a political subdivision.
