Wisconsin counties receive state funding for forest roads

WISCONSIN — Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) this week announced that $320,600.00 in state funds is anticipated to support improving more than 930 miles of county forest roads in 24 counties across the state, including several in the Northwoods.

WisDOT administers the state’s County Forest Road Aids program, which was established to help Wisconsin’s counties pay for the improvement and maintenance of public roads within county forests, according to a release from Evers’ office.

To qualify for state funding under the County Forest Road Aids program, roads must have at least a 16-foot surface width and a 20-foot roadway width, be located within county forests, be part of a comprehensive county forest land-use plan and be open and used for travel. The road cannot be a state highway, county trunk highway or town road and cannot be part of the larger General Transportation Aids program.

For its 27.25 eligible miles of county forest roads, Lincoln County received $9,340.99. A total of $13,317.34 went to Oneida County for its 38.85 eligible miles, and Price County received $2,139.00 for its 6.24 eligible miles.

“Supporting the safety, security, and reliability of Wisconsin’s county forest roads is vital, as, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, each year, county forests generate approximately $40 to $50 million in timber revenues, resulting in approximately 16,000 jobs and $4.6 billion in forest products production,” the release said. “This announcement builds upon Governor Evers’ efforts over the last six years to prioritize fixing Wisconsin’s local roads and infrastructure to ensure the state has the 21st-century infrastructure residents, businesses and visitors depend on.”

The release noted that Wisconsin County forests also provide abundant recreational and tourism opportunities for residents and visitors to the state alike, including more than 9,100 miles of managed snowmobile trails, 1,700 miles of managed ATV trails, 460 miles of cross-country skiing trails, 400 miles of horse trails, 400 miles of bicycle trails, two National Scenic Trails and thousands of miles of forest roads, along with a wealth of hunting and fishing opportunities.

“Maintaining these roads ensures outdoor recreationists can safely and securely access these resources, ultimately bolstering the state’s more than $11.2 billion outdoor economy,” the release stated.

The release said Evers’ 2025-27 Executive Budget includes continued investments in the County Forest Road Aids Program.

“In his budget, Governor Evers is proposing a 3% increase in funding in each year over the biennium, representing an increase of over $30,000.00, so the program can continue to support critical transportation infrastructure improvements across the state,” the release said.

Evers’ budget also includes $50 million over the biennium for the successful Agricultural Road Improvement Program, which supports rural communities and employers with grants that allow communities to make improvements to vital rural transportation corridors that support farm, forestry, and producer operations, according to the release.

“I’m proud we’re continuing our work to fix the darn roads across our state, including critical roads in our rural areas that help support our forestry and outdoor recreation industries, bolster our rural communities and economies and help make sure folks can get from Point A to Point B safely,” Evers stated. “These investments help make sure we can keep building upon this important work, ensuring our rural communities and the industries that support them have the safe, reliable 21st-century infrastructure they need to transport goods, welcome visitors, and be successful.”

“Since Governor Evers took office, WisDOT has improved more than 8,600 miles of road and more than 2,000 bridges in every corner of our state,” said WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman. “Our local roads are the first and last mile of nearly every trip made by Wisconsin’s residents and visitors. A safe and efficient network of local roads is critical to the strength of our economy and quality of life.”

“Douglas County has just over 280,000 acres of forest and represents the largest expanse of county forest in the state,” said Douglas County Director of Forestry and Natural Resources Jon Harris. “These funds allow us to support Wisconsin’s $24 billion forest products industry and support the employment of 64,000 people. We are grateful to WisDOT and Governor Evers for helping us to increase business and keep these roads well maintained.”