The Office of the Governor of the State of Wisconsin

07/08/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/08/2026 09:49

Gov. Evers Wraps Up Annual Statewide “Pothole Patrol” Tour, Highlights Evers Administration’s Investments in Wisconsin Roads

Press Release: Gov. Evers Wraps Up Annual Statewide "Pothole Patrol" Tour, Highlights Evers Administration's Investments in Wisconsin Roads

State of Wisconsin sent this bulletin at 07/08/2026 05:00 AM CDT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 8, 2026
Contact: [email protected]
Gov. Evers Wraps Up Annual Statewide "Pothole Patrol" Tour, Highlights Evers Administration's Investments in Wisconsin Roads
MADISON - Gov. Tony Evers, this week, wrapped up his final statewide "Pothole Patrol" tour. The governor's annual tour included 10 stops across the state to fill potholes and highlight the Evers Administration's efforts over the last seven years to repair and improve transportation infrastructure throughout Wisconsin. This year's tour marks the governor's seventh and final "Pothole Patrol" tour since taking office, including in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.

"For the last seven years, I've worked tirelessly with state and local officials to fix the darn roads and ensure improved and reliable streets, bridges, and highways for every community, neighbor, and visitor to our great state. To date, that's included securing historic investments in our transportation infrastructure through our state biennial budgets and filling potholes my darn self on our annual Pothole Patrol tour," said Gov. Evers. "Every pothole filled, road improved, or bridge reconstructed pushes Wisconsin towards the 21st-century infrastructure we need to support a 21st-century economy. This Pothole Patrol, I'm glad to have had the opportunity to be out in our neighborhoods, helping fill in potholes one by one to make folks' lives a little bit better and a whole lot safer."

After years of neglect under the previous administration, Gov. Evers has made fixing Wisconsin's roads and bridges and making sure the state's infrastructure can meet the needs of a 21st-century workforce and economy a top priority. Under Gov. Evers' leadership, the state has improved more than 9,600 miles of roads and 2,400 bridges statewide since 2019. Wisconsinites could drive from Wausau, Wisconsin, to Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and back three times with miles to spare on the miles of roads fixed.

The bipartisan 2025-27 Biennial Budget, signed by Gov. Evers last July, built upon the Evers Administration's efforts to invest in the state's transportation infrastructure with $1.1 billion in new funding for key transportation investments, including increasing the state's General Transportation Aids (GTA) program by three percent in each year of the biennium. Additionally, the 2025-27 state budget provided historic funding for the Local Roads Improvement Program (LRIP), including an over $100 million supplemental investment and continued support for the highly successful Agricultural Roads Improvement Program (ARIP) with another $150 million investment. Of this $150 million investment, $30 million will be targeted to improve and repair deteriorating culverts and small structures through the Local Small Structures Improvement Program.

In addition to securing $100 million in supplemental funding for LRIP, a $150 million investment in the successful ARIP program, and a three percent increase to the state's GTA program each year of the biennium, the final 2025-27 Biennial Budget signed by Gov. Evers included:
  • A historic increase of nearly $333 million over the biennium in the state highway rehabilitation program;
  • $244.5 million to keep key projects, such as I-41 and I-39/90, on schedule;
  • A 10 percent increase to paratransit aids, increasing funding by $687,600 over the biennium;
  • Improving safety on Milwaukee County expressways with $38 million in expressway policing aids; and
  • $50 million for the harbor assistance program, including $15 million for the Menominee Harbor Project and $20 million for the Port of Green Bay.

In 2023, Gov. Evers also secured historic increases in shared revenue for local communities, including a 20 percent increase for most municipalities statewide that will enable local governments to invest in community needs like local roads.

On Mon., June 22, Gov. Evers kicked off his annual tour in Onalaska, where he filled potholes along 3rd Ave. N., as well as 6th Ave. N., and was joined by Onalaska Mayor Kim Smith, Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Deputy Secretary Scott Lawry, regional WisDOT staff, city officials, and local leaders. Photos from the event are available here and here.

Gov. Evers continued his statewide tour the following day in Montello, where he repaired potholes along W. Park St. and County Hwy Y. He was joined by WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman, regional WisDOT staff, city officials, and local leaders. Photos of the event are available here and here. Later that day, Gov. Evers and Secretary Boardman also filled potholes in Antigo along S. Dorr St. The governor and secretary were joined by Antigo Mayor Tom Bauknecht, regional WisDOT staff, city officials, and Public Works staff. Photos of the event are available here and here.

On Thurs., June 25, Gov. Evers continued his statewide tour in Cedarburg, where he repaired potholes along Buchanan St. and Evergreen Blvd. He was joined by WisDOT Assistant Deputy Secretary David Hubbard, Cedarburg Mayor Patricia Thome, regional WisDOT staff, city officials, and local leaders. Photos of the event are available here and here. Following his visit to Cedarburg, Gov. Evers also filled a large pothole in Howard along the Howard Commons roadway. The governor was joined by Howard Village President John Muraski, Dave Burkel, the village of Howard Public Works Foreman, WisDOT regional staff, city officials, and local leaders. Photos of the event are available here and here.

The governor's Pothole Patrol tour continued on Mon., June 29, in Altoona, where Gov. Evers and Secretary Boardman repaired potholes along 11th St. W. The governor and secretary were joined by Altoona Mayor Brendan Pratt, regional WisDOT staff, city officials, and local leaders. Photos of the event are available here and here. Then, later that day, Gov. Evers and Secretary Boardman also filled potholes in Wisconsin Rapids on Birch St. They were joined by Wisconsin Rapids Mayor Matt Zacher, regional WisDOT staff, city officials, and local leaders. Photos of the event are available here and here.

On Wed., July 1, Gov. Evers continued his statewide tour in South Milwaukee, where he repaired potholes along Manitoba Ave. The governor was joined by South Milwaukee Mayor Brett Briesemeister, County Executive David Crowley, WisDOT Deputy Secretary Lawry, regional WisDOT staff, city officials, and local leaders. Photos of the event are available here and here.

Finally, Gov. Evers wrapped up his statewide tour on Mon., July 6, in Siren, where he repaired potholes along WIS 35. The governor was joined by St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin Chairman Conrad St. John, Vice Chairman Richard Benjamin, and Tribal leadership, as well as town of Siren Chairman Wayne Wiberg and Burnett County Board Chair Don Taylor, town and county officials, regional WisDOT staff, and public works employees. Photos of the event are available here and here. Finally, to close out his seventh and final annual Pothole Patrol tour, Gov. Evers also filled potholes in Superior on Wyoming Ave. The governor was joined by Superior Mayor Jim Paine, Superior City Council President Mike Herrick, as well as several council members, WisDOT Deputy Secretary Lawry, and regional WisDOT staff and public works employees. Photos of the event are available here and here.

An online version of this release is available here.
###
Office of the Governor • 115 East Capitol, Madison, WI 53702
Press Office Email: [email protected]
Unsubscribe
The Office of the Governor of the State of Wisconsin published this content on July 08, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on July 08, 2026 at 15:49 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]