Press Release: Gov. Evers Delivers Radio Address, Highlights Final Statewide Pothole Patrol Tour, Efforts to Fix the Darn Roads

State of Wisconsin sent this bulletin at 07/16/2026 02:00 PM CDT
Office of Governor Tony Evers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 16, 2026
Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov 
 
Gov. Evers Delivers Radio Address, Highlights Final Statewide Pothole Patrol Tour, Efforts to Fix the Darn Roads
 
Audio File of Radio Address.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers, this month, 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. 

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.

A transcript of the governor’s radio address is available below. 

Hey there, folks! Governor Tony Evers here.  
 
After years of neglect under the previous administration, I promised to fix the darn roads, and that’s exactly what we’ve been doing over the last seven years.  
 
Together, since 2019, the state has improved more than 9,600 miles of roads and 2,400 bridges statewide.  
 
In fact, Wisconsinites could drive from Wausau to Disney World and back three times with miles to spare on the miles of roads fixed.  
 
And I’ve been proud to fix some of those darn roads my darn self. I just wrapped up my seventh statewide “Pothole Patrol” tour. 
 
From Cedarburg to Siren, I hit the pavement with local leaders to fill potholes and talk about how we’re continuing to invest in the 21st-century infrastructure Wisconsin needs to support a 21st-century economy.  
 
I’m proud that, during my time in office, we’ve secured some of the largest investments our state’s transportation budget has seen in years. 
 
That includes our efforts in our last budget to secure over $1 billion in new funding for transportation investments, including a three percent increase in each year for funding that goes to local communities to fix local roads and over $300 million for state highway improvements.  
 
I was proud our budget continued the successful Agricultural Roads Improvement Program to continue our work to improve local, rural roads that are critical for farmers to move product from point A to B.  
 
And as transportation funding continues to grow, so does the number of projects. 
 
In this construction season alone, there are more than 400 state highway and bridge improvement projects scheduled across our state. 
 
Folks, I am proud of the work we’ve done to meet Wisconsin’s needs for the 21st Century because every pothole filled or bridge reconstructed makes each day a little smoother and a whole lot safer.   
 
So, let’s get back to work, Wisconsin! Thank you. 
 
An online version of this release is available here.
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