Gov. Evers Approves Nearly $320,600 in County Forest Road Aid to Help Improve Over 900 Miles of County Forest Roads Across 24 Counties Maintain Vital Local Roads, Support Rural[...]

MADISON - Gov. Tony Evers, together with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), today announced that $320,600 in state funds is anticipated to support improving more than 930 miles of county forest roads in 24 counties across the state. 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. This announcement builds upon Gov. 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. Since 2019, the Evers Administration has improved more than 8,600 miles of road and 2,000 bridges statewide.

"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," said Gov. Evers. "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."

Additionally, Wisconsin County forests also provide abundant recreational and tourism opportunitiesfor residents and visitors to the state alike, includingmore 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.Maintainingthese roads ensures outdoor recreationistscan safely and securelyaccess these resources, ultimately bolsteringthe state's more than $11.2 billionoutdoor economy.

WisDOT administers the state's County Forest Road Aids program,which was establishedto help Wisconsin's counties pay for the improvement and maintenance of public roads within county forests. 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.

This announcement comes as Gov. Evers celebrated Earth Day this week by participating in community tree planting events in Green Bay and Waunakee. The governor's 2025 Earth Day proclamation is available here. Gov. Evers has also proclaimed Forest Appreciation Week, which runs from April 21 to Arbor Day (April 25). The governor's Forest Appreciation Week and Arbor Day proclamation is available here.

"Since Gov. 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 everytrip 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."

Gov. Evers' 2025-27 Executive Budget includes continuedinvestments in the County Forest Road Aids Program. In his budget, Gov. Evers is proposing a three percent increase in funding in each year over the biennium, representing an increase of over $30,000, so the program can continue to support critical transportation infrastructure improvements across the state. Similarly, Gov. Evers' budgetalsoincludes $50 millionover the biennium for the successful Agricultural Road Improvement Program, which supportsrural communities and employerswith grants that allow communities to makeimprovements to vital rural transportation corridors that support farm, forestry, and producer operations.

"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 Gov. Evers for helping us to increase business and keep these roads well maintained."

A complete list of the funding by county can be found in the table below and on WisDOT's website here.