84.17(1)(b)
(b) "Highway bridge" means a bridge on a highway in this state which crosses waterways, other topographical barriers, other highways or railroads.
84.17(1)(c)
(c) "Rehabilitating" means making major repairs necessary to restore the structural integrity of a highway bridge or making repairs necessary to correct a major safety defect.
84.17(2)
(2) The department shall conduct an inspection and inventory of all highway bridges on the highways in this state. The inspection and inventory of local highway bridges shall be done in consultation with local authorities. The department shall complete the inspection and inventory required under this subsection prior to July 1, 1979, if it is practicable to do so, and in any case prior to December 31, 1980, and shall submit the inspection and inventory report to the federal government in accordance with the provisions of
23 USC 144. The inspection and inventory shall include all highway bridges on any highway in the state. The department shall classify each highway bridge according to its safety, serviceability and necessity for public use and shall determine the cost of rehabilitating the highway bridge or of replacing the highway bridge with a comparable facility. The department shall adopt standards for the highway bridge inspection and inventory program under this subsection.
84.17(3)
(3) After the initial inspection and inventory under
sub. (2) is completed, all highway bridges in the state shall be inspected on a continuing basis as determined by the department. The department shall establish standards for the continuing inspection program. The responsibility for the continuing inspection program shall be as follows:
84.17(3)(a)
(a) The department shall be responsible for inspecting the highway bridges on the state trunk highway system.
84.17(3)(b)
(b) Local authorities and other authorities shall be responsible for inspecting highway bridges on highways under their jurisdictions.
84.17 History
History: 1979 c. 7.
84.18
84.18
Local bridge program. 84.18(1)
(1)
Purpose. The local bridge program is created to accelerate the reconstruction or rehabilitation of seriously deteriorating local bridges.
84.18(2)
(2) Definitions. In this section:
84.18(2)(a)
(a) "Coordinating agency" means the county which coordinates the submission of applications from eligible applicants within the county to the department.
84.18(2)(b)
(b) "Eligible applicant" means county, city, village, town or combination thereof.
84.18(2)(c)
(c) "Entitlement" means the amount of aids a coordinating agency will be eligible to receive under this section as determined under
sub. (5).
84.18(2)(d)
(d) "Local bridge" means a bridge which is not on the state trunk highway system or on marked routes of the state trunk highway system designated as connecting highways.
84.18(2)(e)
(e) "Local bridge project" means a project for the design and construction or rehabilitation of a seriously deteriorating local bridge and minimum approaches.
84.18(2)(f)
(f) "Seriously deteriorating local bridge" means a local bridge exhibiting deficiencies that meet the criteria established by the department.
84.18(3)
(3) Administration. The department shall administer a local bridge program which provides an entitlement of funds to the coordinating agency for the reconstruction or rehabilitation of seriously deteriorating local bridges. The department shall provide the same percentage of the cost of a local bridge project as the percent established under
23 USC 144 (f).
84.18(4)
(4) Applications. Any eligible applicant may apply to the coordinating agency for funds under this section. A separate application is required for each local bridge project. The application shall describe the specific local bridge project for which funds are to be used. The department shall prescribe the form, nature and extent of information to be contained in the application.
84.18(5)
(5) Determination of entitlement. The department shall determine the entitlement to the coordinating agency based upon the ratio between the estimated cost of reconstructing or rehabilitating seriously deteriorating local bridges in that county and the estimated cost of reconstructing or rehabilitating the seriously deteriorating local bridges in the state which are eligible under this section, exclusive of any bridge that is programmed for construction under an order by the department under
s. 84.11 (4). The estimated cost of reconstructing or rehabilitating the seriously deteriorating local bridges in the state and individual counties shall be based upon those bridges identified in the inventory of bridges made under
s. 84.17.
84.18(6)
(6) Execution and control of work. Subject to
s. 30.12 (4) and the control exercised by the United States, the construction under this section of any local bridge project shall be wholly under the supervision and control of the department. The secretary shall make and execute all contracts and have complete supervision over all matters pertaining to such construction and shall have the power to suspend or discontinue proceedings or construction relative to any bridge project at any time in the event any county, city, village or town fails to pay the amount required of it for any project eligible for construction under this section, or if the secretary determines that sufficient funds to pay the state's part of the cost of such bridge project are not available. All moneys provided by counties, cities, villages and towns shall be deposited in the state treasury, when required by the secretary, and paid out on order of the secretary. Any of the moneys deposited for a project eligible for construction under this section which remain in the state treasury after the completion of the project shall be repaid to the respective county, city, village or town in proportion to the amount each deposited.
84.18(7)
(7) Rules. The department shall adopt rules to implement this section.
84.18(8)
(8) Exceptions. Nothing in this section prevents construction or rehabilitation projects under other bridge programs if applicable.
84.18 History
History: 1981 c. 20,
314;
1989 a. 31.
84.185
84.185
Transportation facilities economic assistance and development. 84.185(1)(am)
(am) "Economic development project" means a business development that directly and significantly increases the number of jobs in this state.
84.185(1)(c)
(c) "Improvement" includes construction, reconstruction and the activities, operations and processes incidental to building, fabricating or bettering a transportation facility, but not maintaining or operating a transportation facility.
84.185(1)(d)
(d) "Transportation facility" means any of the following:
84.185(1)(d)4.
4. Rail property consisting of an industrial lead, spur, team track property or trackside intermodal transfer facility.
84.185(2)(a)(a) The secretary may approve the improvement of a transportation facility under this section if the improvement is a component of an economic development project.
84.185(2)(b)
(b) The secretary may approve an improvement under this section only after determining all of the following:
84.185(2)(b)1.
1. Whether the improvement is a justified transportation need. An improvement qualifies as a justified transportation need only when the secretary determines that the costs of the improvement are substantially balanced by significant transportation benefits resulting from the improvement.
84.185(2)(b)3.
3. The ratio of the cost of the improvement to the increase in the number of jobs in this state resulting directly from the improvement or economic development project.
84.185(2)(b)4.
4. The number of jobs which the improvement or economic development project will cause to be retained or increased in this state.
84.185(2)(b)5.
5. Whether the political subdivision will contribute, from funds not provided by this state, not less than 50% of the cost of the improvement.
84.185(2)(b)6.
6. The value of the expenditures required for local infrastructure relating to the improvement.
84.185(2)(b)7.
7. Whether the improvement is compatible and complementary to other transportation facilities and improvements in the political subdivision.
84.185(2)(b)9.
9. Whether the improvement is unlikely to be made without assistance under this section.
84.185(2)(b)10.
10. Whether the improvement will be located in an area of high unemployment or low average income.
84.185(2)(b)11.
11. Whether the improvement will contribute to the economic growth of this state and the well-being of the residents of this state.
84.185(2)(b)12.
12. Whether a business that would be helped by an improvement is financially sound.
84.185(2)(b)14.
14. Whether the improvement would have a significant negative impact on other businesses.
84.185(2)(c)
(c) The secretary may approve the relocation of a segment of railroad track as an improvement of a transportation facility if the land on which the track lies is necessary for the expansion or continued operation of an existing business facility and the conditions under
pars. (a) and
(b) are met.
84.185(4)
(4) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules establishing criteria for making determinations under this section. The rules shall include criteria to rank projects and make competitive selections, and criteria and procedures for the repayment of loans made under
sub. (6m).
84.185(6m)
(6m) Administration. From the appropriations under
s. 20.395 (2) (iq),
(iv) and
(ix), upon the approval of the secretary under
sub. (2), the department may make improvements to or provide other assistance for the improvement of a transportation facility under
sub. (1) (d) 1. to
3. or provide other assistance for the improvement of a transportation facility under
sub. (1) (d) 4. or
5. The department may make loans from the appropriations under
s. 20.395 (2) (iq) and
(iw) for the improvement of a transportation facility. The state share of costs for the improvement of a transportation facility, including any loans made under this subsection for the improvement of the transportation facility, may not exceed 50% of the cost of the improvement.
84.185(7m)
(7m) Agreements. The department may enter into agreements with a governing body or private source, or both, respecting the financing of an improvement under this section.
84.185(8m)
(8m) Exception. Nothing in this section prevents the improvement of a transportation facility under other applicable provisions.
84.185(9)
(9) Exclusion of private roads. No private road or driveway, as defined in
s. 340.01 (46), may be improved under this section.
84.20
84.20
State repair and maintenance of highways and streets. Damage to any county trunk or town highway or city or village street caused by reason of its use as a detour designated by the department or for hauling materials incident to the maintenance, repair or construction by the department of any state trunk highway or street over which a state trunk highway is routed, shall be repaired by the department. Such highway or street shall also be maintained by the department during such use. The cost of such repairs and maintenance shall be paid from funds appropriated and available to the department for the maintenance and improvement of state trunk highways and connecting highways under
s. 20.395 (3).
84.20 History
History: 1973 c. 333 s.
201w;
1977 c. 29 ss.
1654 (3), (6) (b), (8) (a),
1656 (43).
84.25
84.25
Controlled-access highways. 84.25(1)
(1)
Authority of department; procedure. The legislature declares that the effective control of traffic entering upon or leaving intensively traveled highways is necessary in the interest of public safety, convenience and the general welfare. The department is authorized to designate as controlled-access highways the rural portions of the state trunk system on which, after traffic engineering surveys, investigations and studies, it shall find, determine and declare that the average traffic potential is in excess of 2,000 vehicles per 24-hour day. Such designation of a portion of any state trunk highway in any county as a controlled-access highway shall not be effected until after a public hearing in the matter has been held in the county courthouse or other convenient public place within the county following notice by publication of a class 3 notice, under
ch. 985, in a newspaper published in the county. If the department shall then find that the average traffic potential is as provided by this subsection, and that the designation of the highway as a controlled-access highway is necessary in the interest of public safety, convenience and the general welfare, it shall make its finding, determination and declaration to that effect, specifying the character of the controls to be exercised. Copies of the finding, determination and declaration shall be recorded with the register of deeds, and filed with the county clerk, and published as a class 1 notice, under
ch. 985, in the newspaper in which the notice of hearing was published, and the order shall be effective on such publication. Not more than 1,500 miles of highway shall be designated as controlled-access highways under authority of this section.
84.25(2)
(2) Controlled-access highway defined. For the purposes of this section, a controlled-access highway is a highway on which the traffic is such that the department has found, determined and declared it to be necessary, in the interest of the public safety, convenience and the general welfare to prohibit entrance upon and departure from the highway or street except at places specially designated and provided for such purposes, and to exercise special controls over traffic on such highway or street.
84.25(3)
(3) Construction; other powers of department. In order to provide for the public safety, convenience and the general welfare, the department may use an existing highway or provide new and additional facilities for a controlled-access highway and so design the same and its appurtenances, and so regulate, restrict or prohibit access to or departure from it as the department deems necessary or desirable. The department may eliminate intersections at grade of controlled-access highways with existing highways or streets, by grade separation or service road, or by closing off such roads and streets at the right-of-way boundary line of such controlled-access highway and may divide and separate any controlled-access highway into separate roadways or lanes by raised curbings, dividing sections or other physical separations or by signs, markers, stripes or other suitable devices, and may execute any construction necessary in the development of a controlled-access highway including service roads or separation of grade structures.
84.25(4)
(4) Connections by other highways. After the establishment of any controlled-access highway, no street or highway or private driveway, shall be opened into or connected with any controlled-access highway without the previous consent and approval of the department in writing, which shall be given only if the public interest shall be served thereby and shall specify the terms and conditions on which such consent and approval is given.
84.25(5)
(5) Use of highway. No person shall have any right of entrance upon or departure from or travel across any controlled-access highway, or to or from abutting lands except at places designated and provided for such purposes, and on such terms and conditions as may be specified from time to time by the department.
84.25(6)
(6) Abutting owners. After the designation of a controlled-access highway, the owners or occupants of abutting lands shall have no right or easement of access, by reason of the fact that their property abuts on the controlled-access highway or for other reason, except only the controlled right of access and of light, air or view.
84.25(7)
(7) Special crossing permits. Whenever property held under one ownership is severed by a controlled-access highway, the department may permit a crossing at a designated location, to be used solely for travel between the severed parcels, and such use shall cease if such parcels pass into separate ownership.
84.25(8)
(8) Right-of-way. Any lands or other private or public property or interest in such property needed to carry out the purposes of this section may be acquired by the department in the manner provided in
s. 84.09.
84.25(9)
(9) Cooperative agreements. To facilitate the purposes of this section, the department and the governing bodies of a city, county, town or village are authorized to enter into agreements with each other or with the federal government respecting the financing, planning, establishment, improvement, maintenance, use, regulation or vacation of controlled-access highways or other public ways in their respective jurisdictions.
84.25(10)
(10) Local service roads. In connection with the development of any controlled-access highway, the department and county, city, town or village highway authorities are authorized to plan, designate, establish, use, regulate, alter, improve, maintain, or vacate local service roads and streets or to designate as local service roads and streets any existing roads or streets, and to exercise jurisdiction over local service roads in the same manner as is authorized over controlled-access highways under the provisions of this section, if, in their opinion, such local service roads or streets shall serve the necessary purposes.
84.25(11)
(11) Commercial enterprises. No commercial enterprise, except a vending facility which is licensed by the department of industry, labor and job development and operated by blind or visually impaired persons, shall be authorized or conducted within or on property acquired for or designated as a controlled-access highway.
84.25(12)
(12) Unlawful use of highway; penalties. It shall be unlawful for any person to drive any vehicle into or from a controlled-access highway except through an opening provided for that purpose. Any person who violates this provision shall be punished by a fine of not more than $100 or by imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
84.25(13)
(13) Vacating. A controlled-access highway shall remain such until vacated by order of the department. The discontinuance of all state trunk highway routings over a highway established as a controlled-access highway shall summarily vacate the controlled-access status of such section of highway only after a traffic engineer survey investigation and study finds, determines and declares that the vacating of the controlled-access status is in the public interest. Such vacating shall not be effected until after a public hearing is held in the county courthouse or other convenient place within the county, following notice by publication under
sub. (1). The department shall record formal notice of any vacation of a controlled-access highway with the register of deeds of the county wherein such highway lies. When the county board, or county boards in the case of boundary line roads, by resolution enacted and filed with the department prior to the vacating of a controlled-access by the department, requests that the controlled-access highway be continued pursuant to
s. 83.027, then and thereafter all authority established by
s. 83.027 shall be in effect with respect to such controlled-access highway, except that the county need not comply with
s. 83.027 (1), and the department shall be relieved of any further authority for such controlled-access highway.
84.25 Annotation
This section does not mean that once access is granted it may not be taken away. Estoppel is seldom applied against a government and would not be justified under the facts. Surety Savings & Loan Asso. v. State, 54 W (2d) 438, 195 NW (2d) 464.
84.27
84.27
Institution roads. The department may administer a program to improve highways forming convenient connections between the university of Wisconsin system and state charitable or penal institutions, and the state trunk highway system, or to construct roadways under or over state trunk highways that pass through the grounds thereof, or to construct and maintain all drives and roadways on such grounds or the grounds of the state capitol. Within the limitations and for the purposes of this section, work may be performed by or under the supervision or authority of the department, upon the request for such work filed by the board of regents of the university of Wisconsin system or the state boards, commissions, departments or officers, respectively, as to such work in connection with the institution controlled by them. The cost of any work under this section shall be the responsibility of the board of regents of the university of Wisconsin system or the state boards, commissions, departments or officers involved.
84.28
84.28
State park, forest and riverway roads. 84.28(1)
(1) Moneys from the appropriation under
s. 20.370 (1) (mr) may be expended for the renovation, marking and maintenance of a town or county highway located within the boundaries of any state park, state forest or other property under the jurisdiction of the department of natural resources. Moneys from the appropriation under
s. 20.370 (1) (mr) may be expended for the renovation, marking and maintenance of a town or county highway located in the lower Wisconsin state riverway as defined in
s. 30.40 (15). Outside the lower Wisconsin state riverway as defined in
s. 30.40 (15), or outside the boundaries of these parks, forests or property, moneys from the appropriation under
s. 20.370 (1) (mr) may be expended for the renovation, marking and maintenance of roads which the department of natural resources certifies are utilized by a substantial number of visitors to state parks, state forests or other property under the jurisdiction of the department of natural resources. The department of natural resources shall authorize expenditures under this subsection. The department of natural resources shall rank projects eligible for assistance under a priority system and funding may be restricted to those projects with highest priority.
84.28(2)
(2) The department may administer a program for the construction, maintenance and marking of roads, including fire roads, service areas, trailer or vehicle parking stalls or parking areas and other facilities consistent with highway construction and for the marking of scenic routes in the state parks, state forests, the lower Wisconsin state riverway as defined under
s. 30.40 (15), state fish hatcheries, other public used areas under the jurisdiction of the department of natural resources and other public lands as defined in
ch. 24, for highways or fire roads leading from the most convenient state trunk highways to such lands, and for the relocation and construction of state trunk highways in or near state parks when required in the interests of public safety. Within the limitations and for the purposes of this section, work may be performed by or under the supervision or authority or with the approval of the department, upon the request for such work filed by the department of natural resources as to the lower Wisconsin state riverway, as defined in
s. 30.40 (15), or as to state park or forest lands, or by the board of commissioners of the public lands as to other classes of public lands. Outside the lower Wisconsin state riverway, as defined in
s. 30.40 (15), and outside the limits of the park, state forest and public land areas, direct connections to the most convenient state trunk highway may be built or maintained under this section. Roads in unincorporated areas within 5 miles of the boundaries of the Horicon national wildlife refuge or the Horicon marsh wildlife area may be built or maintained under this section upon request of the town board, if the department of transportation certifies that such roads are or will be used by a substantial number of visitors to such area. Costs incurred under this section shall be the responsibility of the department of natural resources, commissioners of public lands or town board, as appropriate.
84.29
84.29
National system of interstate highways. 84.29(1)(1)
Department of transportation to cooperate with federal agencies. The legislature of the state of Wisconsin hereby declares that the intent of this section is to assent to acts of the United States Congress heretofore and hereafter enacted, authorizing development of the national system of interstate highways located wholly or partly within the state of Wisconsin to the full extent that it is necessary or desirable to secure any benefits under such acts and to authorize the appropriate state boards, commissions, departments, and the governing bodies of counties, cities, towns and villages, and especially the department of transportation, to cooperate in the planning, development and construction of the national system of interstate highways that may be proposed for development in Wisconsin, with any agency or department of the government of the United States in which is vested the necessary authority to construct or otherwise develop or aid in the development of such system. Whenever authority shall exist for the planning and development of a national system of interstate highways of which any portion shall be located in this state, it shall be the duty of the department of transportation to make such investigations and studies in cooperation with the appropriate federal agency, and such state boards, commissions, departments and municipalities as shall have interest in such system development, to the extent that shall be desirable and necessary to provide that the state shall secure all advantages that may accrue through such interstate system development and that the interest of municipalities along such system shall be conserved.
84.29(2)
(2) Routes of interstate system, state trunk highways. Upon finding by the department that the development of any proposed highway as a route of the national system of interstate highways, hereinafter designated the interstate system or interstate highways, or any portion thereof, including the laying out, construction, maintenance and operation of any part thereof as a freeway or expressway, is in the promotion of the public and social welfare of the state and for the benefit of public travel, the department is empowered and it shall have full authority to lay out, construct, operate and maintain such highway as a part of the state trunk highway system. Except as otherwise provided by this section, all provisions of law relative to the acquisition of land for highway purposes and for surveys, plans, establishing, laying out, widening, enlarging, extending, constructing, reconstructing, improving, maintaining and financing of other state trunk highways shall apply to the interstate highways undertaken in this state.
84.29(3)
(3) Changes in existing highways and utilities. It is recognized that in the construction of interstate highways in this state to modern standard and design, mutually agreed upon by the department and the federal agency, to promote the public and social welfare, and benefit public travel of the state, and meet the needs of national defense, it will become necessary for the department to make or cause to be made changes in the location, lines and grades of existing public highways, railroads and public utility transmission lines and facilities.
84.29(4)
(4) Laying new highways for interstate system. Upon finding and determination by the department that it is not in the public interest and that it is impractical to establish the route of the interstate system on or along an existing state trunk highway, the department is authorized and empowered to lay out and establish a new and additional state trunk highway for the interstate highway. As an interstate highway may be established, laid out and constructed on a new location as an expressway or freeway which is not on and along an existing public highway, no right of access to the highway shall accrue to or vest in any abutting property owner. As an interstate highway may be established, laid out and constructed as an expressway or freeway on and along an existing public highway, reasonable provision for public highway traffic service or access to abutting property shall be provided by means of frontage roads as a part of the interstate highway development, or the right of access to or crossing of the public highway shall be acquired on behalf of the state as a part of the interstate highway improvement project. The occupation or use of any part of an existing public highway is authorized for the construction of the interstate system. The action of the department relative to establishment, layout, location or relocation of any part of the interstate system shall be conclusive.
