Chapter 84

84.02(5)(b) (b) Upon publication of the highway service maps, the department shall distribute without charge 50 of these maps to each officer and member of the legislature. Any officer or member of the legislature may request additional highway service maps. The request may be written or oral. The fee for the additional maps shall be the fee set by the department under par. (a).

84.02(5)(c) (c) Upon publication of the folded highway maps, the department shall distribute without charge 500 of these maps to each officer and member of the legislature and 300 of these maps to the legislative reference bureau. Any officer or member of the legislature may request additional folded highway maps. The request may be written or oral. No charge may be made for the additional folded highway maps.

84.02(5)(d) (d) The highway service maps and folded highway maps published by the department for sale or distribution to the public under par. (a) shall include all of the following:

84.02(5)(d)1. 1. Identification of each veterans memorial highway or bridge designated under this chapter and the Wisconsin 9/11 Memorial Highway designated under s. 84.10295.

84.02(5)(d)2. 2. Identification of the location of each of the following:

84.02(5)(d)2.a. a. Memorial Park in the city of Arcadia in Trempealeau County.

84.02(5)(d)2.b. b. The All Veterans’ Memorial in the village of Clear Lake in Polk County.

84.02(5)(d)2.c. c. The Highground Veterans Memorial Park near the city of Neillsville in Clark County.

84.02(5)(d)2.d. d. The Milwaukee County War Memorial Center in the city of Milwaukee in Milwaukee County.

84.02(5)(d)2.e. e. The Richard I. Bong Veterans Heritage Center in the city of Superior in Douglas County.

84.02(5)(d)2.f. f. The Wisconsin Korean War Veterans Memorial in the village of Plover in Portage County.

84.02(5)(d)2.g. g. The Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery near the city of Spooner in Washburn County.

84.02(5)(d)2.h. h. The Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery near the village of Union Grove in Racine County.

84.02(5)(d)2.i. i. The Central Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery at King near the city of Waupaca in Waupaca County.

84.02(5)(d)2.j. j. The Wisconsin Veterans Home at King near the city of Waupaca in Waupaca County.

84.02(5)(d)2.k. k. The Wisconsin Veterans Home at Union Grove near the village of Union Grove in Racine County.

84.02(5)(d)2.L. L. The Wisconsin Veterans Museum in the city of Madison in Dane County.

84.02(5)(d)2.m. m. The Wisconsin National Guard Museum in the village of Camp Douglas in Juneau County.

84.02(5)(d)2.n. n. The Wisconsin Veterans Tribute and the Citizen Soldier Monument in the village of Cadott in Chippewa County.

84.02(5)(d)2.o. o. The Wisconsin Veterans Home at Chippewa Falls in the city of Chippewa Falls in Chippewa County.

84.02(5)(d)2.p. p. The Wisconsin 9/11 Memorial and Education Center in the village of Kewaskum in Washington County.

84.02(5)(d)2.q. q. The Mount Horeb Veterans Memorial in the village of Mount Horeb in Dane County.

84.02(6) (6) Alternate routes through cities, villages and towns. In cases where any state trunk highway passes near but not through the central or business portion of any city, village or town, the department may upon petition of any city, village or town designate an alternate route through such central or business portion, and shall install suitable marking to guide travelers over such alternate route. No such designation shall be made unless the department finds that public travel will be benefited. Any such designation may be revoked on 30 days’ notice to the city, village or town if the department finds that public travel is not benefited. Such designation shall impose no responsibility on the state, except the cost of marking in the first instance. Such alternate routes shall be constructed and maintained and kept clear of snow, in a condition satisfactory to the department without expense to the state, and the department may require assurances to that effect before making such designation.

84.02(7) (7) Additions from county trunk highways. Whenever the traffic on any county trunk highway averages in any year 250 or more vehicles daily, the county board may by resolution request that such county trunk highway be added to the state trunk highway system. A copy of such resolution shall be filed with the department. If after investigation the department finds that the traffic on said county trunk highway meets the requirements of this subsection, it may by order add said highway to the state trunk highway system, but the total additions under this subsection shall not exceed 500 miles. Whenever the traffic on any portion of a state trunk highway averages in any year 150 or less vehicles daily, the county board of the county wherein such state trunk highway is situated may by resolution request that such be transferred to the county trunk highway system. A copy of such resolution shall be filed with the department. If after investigation the department finds that the traffic on said state trunk highway is as stated in said resolution, it may order said highway taken from the state trunk highway system and made a county trunk highway.

84.02(8) (8) Jurisdictional transfers: state-local agreements.

84.02(8)(a) (a) The department may make additions or deletions to the state trunk highway system by entering into a jurisdictional transfer agreement with a municipality or county. Addition to or deletion of any part of the state trunk highway system under this subsection may be made without regard to any mileage limitation or procedural requirement imposed under this section or chapter 518, laws of 1947.

84.02(8)(b) (b) The transfer of a highway under a jurisdictional transfer agreement may not take effect until the agreement is approved by the department and by resolution of the governing body of the municipality or county that is a party to the agreement.

84.02(8)(c) (c) A jurisdictional transfer agreement shall specify the length of time for which it is in effect and may contain any other terms and conditions regarding the maintenance or rehabilitation of any highway transferred under the agreement.

84.02(8)(d) (d) The department and the municipality or county that is party to a jurisdictional transfer agreement shall maintain a record of the agreement.

84.02(8m) (8m) Reversion of jurisdiction. A highway that is under the jurisdiction of a municipality or county and that satisfies all of the following requirements shall be transferred to the jurisdiction of the department:

84.02(8m)(a) (a) Prior to September 23, 2017, jurisdiction of the highway was transferred under sub. (8) by the department to a municipality or county under a jurisdictional transfer agreement to which more than one municipality or county was party.

84.02(8m)(b) (b) The municipality or county to which jurisdiction of the highway was transferred under par. (a) subsequently transferred under an agreement under s. 66.0307 territory in which the highway is located to another municipality or county and the agreement under s. 66.0307 did not specifically address jurisdiction of the highway.

84.02(8m)(c) (c) Not later than 6 months after September 23, 2017, the governing body of the transferor and transferee municipalities or counties under par. (b) adopt resolutions stating the intent of the municipality or county to revert jurisdiction of the highway to the department and provide a copy of the resolution to the department.

84.02(10) (10) Temporary routes; detours.

84.02(10)(a) (a) In case it is impracticable to maintain any portion of the state trunk highway system as laid out, pending its improvement or construction, the department may designate a temporary route as part of the state trunk highway system, and in such case the temporary route shall be considered part of the state trunk highway system in every respect, except that it may not be constructed as a state trunk highway.

84.02(10)(b) (b) When any portion of the state trunk highway system is impassable or dangerous to travel or when it shall be deemed necessary because of construction or maintenance work or for other reasons to suspend all or part of the travel thereon, the department may route such travel over a detour around such portion of the state trunk highway system. Such detour may be routed over any other public highway or temporary highway which may be improved or maintained as part of the cost of constructing or maintaining the state trunk highway system to the extent necessary, as determined by the department, because of such additional travel. Such routing of state trunk highway traffic over other public highways shall not alter the existing status of such other public highways.

84.02(11) (11) Connecting highways. The state trunk highway system shall not include the marked routes thereof over the streets or highways in municipalities which the department has designated as being connecting highways. Those municipal streets or highways so excluded as state trunk highways but marked as such and designated as connecting highways are further described and the aids determined therefor under s. 86.32.

84.02(12) (12) State trunk system maps. The department shall maintain in its permanent record a map of each county on a scale of not less than one-half inch per mile showing the official layout of the state trunk highway system. Annually, as soon as practical after January 1, a copy of such map, showing the official layout of the state trunk highway system in each county as it existed at the close of the previous calendar year, shall be filed with the county clerk and county highway commissioner thereof.

84.02(13) (13) Priority. The department shall give high priority to the completion of the STH 28/USH 41 interchange in Washington County as part of the USH 41 corridor project.

84.02(14) (14) I 39 interchange. If a waiver from the federal department of transportation is required for the construction of an interchange at the intersection of I 39 and Kowalski Road in Marathon County, and if the state department of transportation determines that construction of the interchange will have no adverse impact on safety in the vicinity of the intersection, the state department of transportation shall request a waiver to permit construction of the interchange. If a waiver is granted, or if the state department of transportation determines both that a waiver is not required and that such construction will have no adverse impact on safety in the vicinity of the intersection, the department of transportation shall design the interchange specified in this subsection and allocate funds from the appropriations under s. 20.395 (3) (cq) to (cx) sufficient to construct the interchange.

84.02(15) (15) USH 51 reconstruction project in Dane County. The department shall commence, in the 2007-08 fiscal year, the preparation of an environmental impact statement or environmental assessment, as applicable, for the USH 51 north segment reconstruction project in Dane County, which includes expanding USH 51 to a 4-lane divided highway from the intersection of USH 51 and Reardon Road to just north of the intersection of USH 51 and CTH “V”/Grinde Road in the village of DeForest. The department shall commence construction of this project no later than December 31, 2012.

84.02 History History: 1971 c. 323 s. 27; 1973 c. 185; 1977 c. 29 ss. 926, 1654 (3), (6) (b), (8) (a); 1977 c. 272; 1979 c. 34, 221; 1981 c. 248, 346; 1983 a. 27; 1985 a. 29; 1989 a. 31; 1993 a. 246, 490; 1995 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16; 2003 a. 214; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 126; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 32, 130; 2017 a. 59; 2019 a. 20; 2023 a. 270.

84.02 Note NOTE: 2003 Wis. Act 214, which affected this section, contains extensive explanatory notes.

84.02 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. Trans 208, Wis. adm. code.

84.02 Annotation A local unit of government is without jurisdiction to unilaterally change a segment of the state highway system. 61 Atty. Gen. 263.

84.03 84.03 Federal aid; state and local funds.

84.03(1) (1) State and federal aid.

84.03(1)(a) (a) All moneys granted or allotted to the state of Wisconsin as federal aid for highways and all state appropriations and other funds available to match or supplement such federal aid funds and so utilized by the department shall be expended by the department in accordance with the act of congress relating to such federal aid funds.

84.03(1)(b) (b) Funds provided by any county, city, village or town to construct, reconstruct or improve any highway, street or bridge with state or federal aid under this chapter, shall be paid to the department or to the state treasury as the department may require and shall be expended in accordance with s. 84.06 and the federal acts relating to such federal aid. The use of state or federal aid in the construction, reconstruction or improvement of any highway, street or bridge not on the state trunk highway system shall not relieve the county, city, village or town of any obligation to maintain such highway, street or bridge. The department may allot to any city of the 1st class any state and federal highway funds to which such city may be entitled for the purpose of the payment of interest, debt charges, amortization or retirement of street or highway bonds issued pursuant to s. 67.05 or other applicable provisions of law. Such cities may use such highway funds so allotted for such purposes, paying interest, debt charges and costs, amortization or retirement of such bonds.

84.03(1)(c) (c) On any highway, street or bridge hereafter constructed, reconstructed or improved with state or federal aid under this chapter, the location, form and character of informational, regulatory and warning signs, curb and pavement or other markings, and traffic signals installed or placed by any public authority or other agency shall be subject to the approval of the department; and the department is directed to approve only such installations as will promote the safe and efficient utilization of the highways, streets and bridges.

84.03(2) (2) Federal appropriations adjustments.

84.03(2)(a) (a) In this subsection:

84.03(2)(a)1. 1. “Amount of federal funds” means the sum of federal revenues received under the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, as amended, or under a substantially similar federal legislative act. “Amount of federal funds” does not include the first $300,000,000 of federal moneys received by the state, pursuant to federal legislation enacted during the 111th Congress, for the purpose of reviving the economy of the United States, which moneys are intended to be used for transportation purposes.

84.03(2)(a)2. 2. “The schedule” means the schedule under s. 20.005 (3) as published in the biennial budget act for the first fiscal year of a fiscal biennium and as approved by the joint committee on finance under s. 20.004 (2) for the 2nd fiscal year of a fiscal biennium.

84.03(2)(b) (b)

84.03(2)(b)1. 1. Subject to subd. 2., the secretary shall submit annually to the joint committee on finance a plan identifying how the secretary proposes to adjust the department’s appropriations for that state fiscal year to reflect the most recent estimate of the amount of federal funds that the department will be appropriated in that state fiscal year. The secretary shall submit the plan by the later of the following:

84.03(2)(b)1.a. a. December 1.

84.03(2)(b)1.b. b. Thirty days after the enactment of the federal legislation described under par. (a) 1. for that federal fiscal year.

84.03(2)(b)1.c. c. Thirty days after the enactment of the applicable federal appropriation bill for that federal fiscal year.

84.03(2)(b)2. 2. The secretary is required to submit a plan under subd. 1. only if the department’s most recent estimate of the amount of federal funds that the department will be appropriated under s. 20.395 in the current state fiscal year is less than 95 percent or more than 105 percent of the amount of federal funds shown in the schedule for the appropriations under s. 20.395 in that fiscal year.

84.03(2)(c) (c) After receiving a plan under par. (b) 1., the cochairpersons of the joint committee on finance jointly shall determine whether the plan is complete. If the joint committee on finance meets and either approves or modifies and approves a plan submitted under par. (b) 1. within 14 days after the cochairpersons determine that the plan is complete, the secretary shall implement the plan as approved by the committee. If the joint committee on finance does not meet and either approve or modify and approve a plan submitted under par. (b) 1. within 14 days after the cochairpersons determine that the plan is complete, the secretary shall implement the proposed plan. If the joint committee on finance approves a plan under s. 84.555 for a state fiscal year, the joint committee on finance may modify a plan implemented under this paragraph for that fiscal year.

84.03(4) (4) Park East Freeway corridor cost sharing.

84.03(4)(a) (a) The maximum state share of costs for the project for the demolition of the Park East Freeway corridor in Milwaukee County, as provided in an agreement entered into on April 20, 1999, between the city of Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, and the state, shall be $8,000,000, of which $6,800,000 shall be federal interstate cost estimate funds received by the state.

84.03(4)(b) (b) The local share of costs of the project described in par. (a) shall be not less than the amount of $17,000,000 provided for in the agreement specified under par. (a), of which $14,450,000 shall be federal interstate cost estimate funds received by the city or county.

84.03(9) (9) Improving state trunks; landscaping and acquiring wayside areas.

84.03(9)(a) (a) Subject to s. 86.255, that part of the appropriation made by s. 20.395 (3), not required for the other purposes therein provided, may be used by the department for the improvement and traffic service of the state trunk highway system and connecting highways, for the purchase and operation of equipment, making surveys for locating local road materials, testing of materials, and for other purposes provided in this section, and to match or supplement federal aid for the construction, reconstruction or improvement of the federal aid highway system, secondary or feeder roads, the elimination of hazards at railroad grade crossings and for any other highway purpose for which the state may match or supplement federal aid funds pursuant to any act of congress. Where such funds are used for the improvement of the state trunk highway system or connecting highways or to match or supplement federal aid they shall be expended in accordance with s. 84.06 and any applicable act of congress. Any funds expended pursuant to this paragraph shall be expended by the department on such projects within the provisions of this paragraph, and executed in such manner as the department shall from time to time determine will best meet the needs of travel and best promote the general welfare. Such funds may be used for improvements, within the provisions of this paragraph, independent of or in conjunction with other funds available for such improvements. Subject to s. 86.255, the requirements of any federal highway act, or regulations issued thereunder, may be met from such appropriation.

84.03(9)(b) (b) In addition to the purposes provided in par. (a) there may be expended by the department a sum sufficient, not exceeding $20,000, for marking highways as civil defense evacuation routes as requested by the secretary of local affairs and development prior to September 1, 1980 or the secretary of the department of administration on or after September 1, 1980.

84.03(10) (10) Improvement of connecting highways. All connecting highways shall be constructed or reconstructed by the state in the same manner as portions of the state trunk highway system. It shall not be compulsory for the state to construct or reconstruct any such highway to a greater width than those portions of the state trunk system connecting therewith.

84.03 History History: 1971 c. 125; 1973 c. 243 s. 82; 1977 c. 29 ss. 928, 929, 1654 (1), (3), (8) (a), 1656 (43); 1977 c. 272; 1977 c. 418 ss. 572, 573, 929 (55); 1979 c. 34 s. 2102 (52) (a); 1979 c. 361; 1983 a. 130; 1987 a. 27; 1997 a. 86; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16, 109; 2003 a. 33; 2009 a. 2; 2011 a. 257.

84.04 84.04 Roadside improvement.

84.04(1) (1) As used in this section:

84.04(1)(a) (a) “Overlook” means a graded terrace, often enclosed by a masonry retaining wall, located on roadside areas where favorable topographic conditions provide an exceptional view or offscape from the road.

84.04(1)(b) (b) “Roadside” means that portion of the right-of-way not occupied by surface courses, curbs, paved gutters, or paved median strips or by other highway structures.

84.04(1)(c) (c) “Roadside improvement” means the application of the principles of landscape architecture to highway planning, design, location, and construction.

84.04(1)(d) (d) “Turnout” means an informal surfaced or unsurfaced parking space for one or more cars or trucks, constructed at selected locations on roadsides in open country for purposes of rest and relaxation.

84.04(1)(e) (e) “Wayside” means an area of land adjacent or in close proximity to the highway, with facilities developed for the convenience, comfort, and enjoyment of the motoring public, these developments to include parking, sanitary, cooking, and picnicking facilities, together with any other facility or improvement which the department deems desirable or necessary to accommodate travelers and provide convenient and safe access thereto by pedestrians and vehicles. “Wayside” includes rest areas.

84.04(1)(f) (f) “Windbreak hedge” means a narrow planting of trees or shrubs for protection against the drifting of snow or sand.

84.04(2) (2) The department may construct and maintain parking areas, including car pool parking areas, waysides, overlooks, windbreak hedges, turnouts and carry on roadside improvement along, or in close proximity with state trunk highways. These activities may be performed within highway rights-of-way and upon lands otherwise publicly owned or controlled, or on lands acquired in proximity therewith. The department may acquire lands needed for such purposes.

84.04(4) (4) 

84.04(4)(a) (a) At each rest area constructed and maintained by the department along an interstate highway designated under s. 84.29 (2), the department shall, subject to pars. (b) and (c), permanently display a POW/MIA flag on an outdoor flagpole.

84.04(4)(b) (b) If a rest area described in par. (a) has fewer than 2 outdoor flagpoles, the department may display a POW/MIA flag at a suitable location indoors or, if the department determines after consultation with at least 2 of the state’s veterans organizations that no suitable location indoors exists for the display of a POW/MIA flag, the department may display a poster or literature or both relating to the POW/MIA flag at a suitable location indoors in lieu of displaying the flag.

84.04(4)(c) (c) Upon receipt of sufficient contributions, including in-kind contributions, from interested parties, including any county, city, village, or town, to cover the costs of displaying POW/MIA flags or posters or literature as specified in pars. (a) and (b), the department shall display the flags or posters or literature. No state funds, other than from the receipt of contributions under this paragraph, may be expended for the display of the flags or posters or literature.

84.04(4)(d) (d) If a rest area described in par. (a) has fewer than 2 outdoor flagpoles, any facilities improvement project at the rest area commenced after April 13, 2006, shall include installation of outdoor flagpoles so that the rest area has at least 2 outdoor flagpoles.

84.04 History History: 1973 c. 333 s. 201w; 1977 c. 29 ss. 930, 931, 1654 (6) (b), (8) (a); 1977 c. 101, 272; 1983 a. 189; 1985 a. 29; 1993 a. 490; 1997 a. 253; 2003 a. 33; 2005 a. 239.

84.05 84.05 Railroad crossing improvements. On a highway which the department has authority to construct and which crosses a railroad, if the department determines that the construction or reconstruction of a grade separation or the rearrangement or elimination of a grade crossing or other rearrangement of the highway or tracks is necessary in the interest of public safety or for convenience of public travel, the department shall make a plan of the construction proposed and an estimate of the cost thereof, including the cost of needed right-of-way; and shall endeavor to make an arrangement with all persons concerned as to all matters involved in the plan, including the portion of the cost of the contemplated work which the persons shall defray. If the department is unable to contract with the persons concerned as to the distribution and payment of the cost of the work or the maintenance thereof, the department shall lay the matter before the office of the commissioner of railroads, and the office of the commissioner of railroads shall review the proceedings and hold a hearing thereon in accordance with ss. 195.28 and 195.29, and shall fix the portion of the cost of the construction and of the maintenance which is to be paid by the persons or corporations concerned, and the portion of the cost, if any, to be paid by the public, which portion shall be paid from the transportation fund. The office of the commissioner of railroads shall determine the benefits, if any, which will inure to other highways, and apportion and charge to the units of government responsible for the construction of such other highways a fair portion of the cost.

84.05 History History: 1977 c. 29 s. 1654 (8) (b), (9) (f); 1981 c. 347 s. 80 (2); 1985 a. 187; 1993 a. 16, 123.

84.06 84.06 Highway construction.

84.06(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

84.06(1)(a) (a) Subject to par. (b), “improvement” or “highway improvement” includes all of the following: