Transportation Improvement Conference Agenda

A1. Digging into Compliance: How Archaeology Shapes Transportation Planning and Projects in Wisconsin

Speakers: Lynn Cloud, Katie Kaliszewski & Christa Rodriguiz, WisDOT; Shaheen Christie & Greg Rainka, Terracon

This session introduces participants to the archaeological requirements that guide transportation project development, focusing on the purpose of archaeological investigations and the legal framework that mandates them. Participants will learn how the Section 106 process under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 integrates with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and how various types of archaeological studies - desktop literature reviews, Phase I identification surveys, Phase II evaluation, and Phase III data recovery and mitigation - are selected based on project scope and regulatory requirements.

This session also covers key procedures for responding to cultural material discoveries, outlines the role of tribes within the Section 106 consultation process, and explains how agencies should handle tribal requests to participate as consulting parties. Additionally, participants will gain an understanding of the typical workflow and timeline from completing an archaeological survey to obtaining concurrence from the Wisconsin State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), equipping them to navigate cultural resource compliance effectively while planning and managing transportation projects.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain the purpose and justification for conducting archaeological investigations within transportation projects, including compliance, preservation, and project-planning considerations.
• Describe the requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 and explain how the Section 106 process integrates with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
• Differentiate among the various types of archaeological surveys—literature review, Phase I identification surveys, Phase II evaluation studies, and Phase III data recovery—and determine when each survey type is appropriate based on project needs and regulatory requirements.

A2: Mississippi River Bridge at Lansing, Emergency Response

Speakers: Clayton Burke, Iowa DOT & Travis Konda, HNTB

The project team from the Mississippi River Bridge at Lansing Iowa presents on the history of the I9/WIS 82 bridge. The importance of this river crossing is critical to the local community. Learn about the design and construction of new Black Hawk Bridge. The presentation will cover construction progress, lessons learned, unique challenges faces, and key takeaways and opportunity to problem solve.

Learning Objectives:

• Review the history of the Black Hawk Bridge and the design improvements. 
• Understand the monitoring of existing structures and impacts of vibrations from adjacent construction. 
• Learn about strengthening of existing structures to withstand nearby vibration generators.

A3: Curb Ramp Design Standards

Speakers: Chad Halverson, KL Engineering; John Jenkins & Chris Squires, WisDOT; Liz Rubenzer, Foth

The final version of Proposed Rights of Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) was released in early August 2023. FDM 11-46-10 Curb Ramps was subsequently updated to meet the final version. This session highlights the updates to the FDM and associated SDDs to comply with final version of PROWAG. It will discuss the current design standards for curb ramps.

Learning Objectives:

• Review design standards for curb ramps in the FDM.
• Discover how the new curb ramp standards promote accessibility.
• Learn how engineers can enhance their projects by meeting the PROWAG and FDM standards.

A4: I-894 Echelon Paving

Speakers: Eric Hanson, Paul Schindelholz & Liz Wells, WisDOT

WisDOT Southeast Freeways Construction will present on the successful execution of extended weekend full-freeway closures on I-894 for echelon asphalt paving operations.  Projects included are I-894 East-West project, between the Hale Interchange to the Mitchel Interchange, and the I-894 North-South project, from Lincoln Ave through the Hale Interchange in Milwaukee County. WisDOT will explain the development of the concept, the planning process, and the steps necessary for successful implementation. The presentation will also highlight the safety enhancements, cost savings and the improved pavement quality as a result the prescribed echelon paving.

Learning Objectives:

• Project planning and development for full weekend echelon paving
• Recommendations and best practices when evaluating projects
• Traffic and Incident Management

A5: I-41, STH 96 to CTH F Project Update

Speakers: Scott Ebel & Bryan Learst, WisDOT

I-41 is a 23-mile reconstruction project which includes adding a third travel lane in each direction to address congestion and crash-rate concerns throughout the corridor. The project also includes the reconstruction of 10 service interchanges and one system interchange at WIS 441. Design for 4 of the 5 segments is wrapping up this spring and we are preparing for an active 2026 construction season along I-41 corridor.

Learning Objectives:

• Review project history/origin and current design status.
• Describe the project municipal coordination challenges.
• Share how the project is handling staging and construction oversight.
• Review the environmental re-eval needs and lessons learned.

A6: Roadway and Structures Construction Insights: Lessons Learned for Future Success

Speakers: Dave Katzner & Tanner Mulock, MSA; Barry Larson, HNTB

This session will share lessons learned from recent construction projects, using real-world examples to highlight technical insights and practical strategies. Attendees will gain knowledge that can be directly applied to future work, including project scoping, design development, constructability reviews, multidisciplinary coordination, and contractor oversight. Topics will span from foundations and bridge decks to curb and gutter installation and rock excavation, addressing common challenges and effective solutions. The goal is to equip participants with approaches that enhance efficiency, improve collaboration, and optimize final project outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify common construction challenges and their impact on cost, schedule, safety, and quality.
• Recognize key structural elements and apply effective strategies to address issues and optimize outcomes.
• Implement proven best practices during scoping, design, and construction to reduce risks and improve project performance.

Back to Top

B1. The State Transportation Improvement Plan and Project Authorization Cycle

Speakers: Robert Hamilton III, Colleen Hoesly & Sara Husen, WisDOT

This session will:

• Give you an overview of the financial life of a project from Inception to Construction.
• Explain the different funding “pots of money” for projects.
• Explain the State Transportation Improvement Program and its importance in project development.
• Detail the STIP development process and timing of the approval process.

Learning Objectives:

• Know when you have a fully-funded project.
• Understand where the funding for a project comes from based on different scenarios.
• Understand when a project is considered fiscally constrained, and the environmental document can be signed.

B2: Cranberry Interchange Design/Build

Speakers: Don Demers, SRF; Greg Payne, Benesch; Christine Krall & Nathaniel Schumaker, WisDOT

This course will discuss the WisDOT Design-Build process from preliminary engineering to final design using Cranberry Interchange as a case study.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the Design-Build Preliminary Engineering Experience
• Review the WisDOT RFQ and RFP Process
• Learn about the Design-Build Final Engineering Experience
• Understand the WisDOT Project Management Perspective

B3: Practical Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Applications for WisDOT Construction and Inspection

Speakers: Paul Crocker, Ayres & Steve Doocy, WisDOT

Over the last 4 years, WisDOT’s use of unmanned vehicles has grown substantially and has shown significant returns on investment.  While the current use cases have been primarily for structure inspection and public relations, there are many other areas where the state may be able to realize significant returns on investment into the use of unmanned systems including supplementing survey and mapping efforts.  This presentation will discuss other high return use cases that WisDOT should look to implement.  Examples include construction monitoring and documentation, traffic monitoring, emergency response, mapping for design and bare earth quantities.

Learning Objectives:

• Identifying major UAS applications in transportation and construction environments
• Understanding the types of data drones can collect and how that data supports engineering decision-making
• Becoming familiar with regulatory requirements, including FAA Part 107 and relevant agency policies
• Evaluating limitations of UAS related to cost, accuracy, site conditions, and regulatory constraints

B4: WisDOT Cost Schedule and Risk Assessment (CSRA)

Speakers: Sarah Sanfilippo, Clayton Smith, Jera Sullivan & Geoff Williams, WisDOT

This course provides an in-depth look at how WisDOT conducts internal Cost Schedule and Risk Assessment (CSRA) workshops to estimate the budgets for Major Projects of $100M - $500M. Come learn what is involved for a WisDOT CSRA, including Probabilistic Risk-Based Estimating (PRBE) and the Monte-Carlo Simulation with workshop examples from the La Crosse Corridor.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand elements of a Probabilistic Rick-Based Estimating (PRBE) including cost and base estimates.
• Analyze a risk register for the Monte Carlo simulation.
• Evaluate market conditions for schedule risks and issues for a Major project. 

B5: Pleasant View Road: Threading the Needle

Speakers: Elizabeth Garfoot & Alex Zwart, Strand

The Pleasant View Road corridor is a key north-south commuter roadway on the west side of the City of Madison and the City of Middleton that serves both local and regional traffic and acts as an alternate route for USH 12/14 (Madison Beltline) during delays. This project included the reconstruction of 1.4 miles of the northern portion of Pleasant View Road from a rural 2-lane roadway to a 4-lane urban roadway between Timber Wolf Trail and USH 14, and included railroad crossings, roundabouts, bicycle and pedestrian connectivity and stormwater improvements all of which had to fit within the physical constraints of the corridor. Those constraints included a cemetery, the Pleasant View Golf Course, an operating quarry and significant rock walls.   The proposed design had to address numerous safety, operational, and resiliency concerns with the existing corridor that required significant changes to meet current standards and the needs of the cities affected in conjunction with the concerns of the public and private stakeholders along the corridor.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify potential project constraints and solutions that were used as part of the Pleasant View Road project.
• Explain how the project was able to blend roadway and stormwater improvements with the adjacent Pleasant View Golf Course.
• Recognize how both roadway and stormwater improvements were able to improve infrastructure resiliency and reduce potential flooding on Pleasant View Road.

B6: TMP Lessons Learned During Mega/Major Reconstruction

Speakers: Toni Keegan & Tim Vik, HNTB

Presenters will share lessons learned from over a decade of delivering construction traffic management (TMP) support on mega/major interstate projects, including the Zoo Interchange, I-94 North-South, Wisconsin River Bridges, and I-43 North-South. The session highlights how proactive strategies, robust collaboration, and a forward-looking approach ensure projects are built successfully while maintaining traffic flow, emergency response, and public trust.

Learning Objectives:

• Review effective traffic management outside of the work zone relies on leveraging traffic data and partnering with surrounding municipalities. 
• Discover why engaging emergency responders early and often during roadway construction is vital to maximizing mutual-aid partnerships and reducing response restrictions.
• Learn how clear, well-structured public information strategies are essential to strengthening stakeholder trust.

Back to Top

C1. How Real Estate/Right of Way Acquisition Impacts Construction

Speakers: Gregory Gasper & Norman Pawelczyk, WisDOT

This session will:

• Explain the importance of having Real Estate involved throughout the design and construction phases
• Explain the required timelines for effective right of way acquisition
• Explain the essential documents that need to be shared between Real Estate and Project Development
• Share past real estate related situations on road projects that occurred after the right of way acquisition process but during construction

Learning Objectives:

• Have an increased awareness of the timeline required during right of way acquisition for road projects
• Learn the process to use when real estate related issues occur during construction
• Learn how to use your available right of way professionals to assist with the planning process

C2: Temporary Pedestrian Access

Speakers: Andy Heidtke & Michael Seifert, WisDOT

This session will be for design engineers to gain a basic level of understanding on Temporary Pedestrian Accommodations in Work Zones. Participants can expect discussion on the Facility Development Manual chapter 11-50-31 and various standard detail drawings. We will discuss the use of Temporary Audible Message Devices and Detour Routes for Pedestrians.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will understand the laws and guidelines for accommodation pedestrians in work zones.
• Participants will recognize the need for temporary pedestrian accommodation.
• Participants will develop a pedestrian detour plan.

C3: Rebuilding USH 14: Navigating a Small Town Reconstruction Project

Speakers: Joshua Melby, KL Engineering; Elizabeth Reis, CORRE

Downtown roadway reconstruction projects sit at the intersection of engineering, community impact, and political reality. This presentation takes attendees inside a recently completed downtown urban roadway reconstruction project of USH 14, highlighting the technical challenges, stakeholder coordination, and design decisions that shaped the final outcome.

Through real project examples, the project will explore how constrained right-of-way, aging utilities, multimodal demands, and business access requirements were balanced while maintaining traffic and construction progress. Attendees will gain insight into practical design solutions, construction sequencing strategies, and coordination techniques used to deliver a complex project in a confined urban environment.

The presentation emphasizes lessons learned—what worked, what didn’t, and what the project team would do differently next time—providing actionable takeaways that attendees can apply to their own urban transportation projects.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand key design and constructability challenges unique to downtown roadway reconstructions.
• Learn strategies for maintaining mobility, access, and safety during construction.
• Review how to coordinate with utilities, businesses, and public stakeholders in high-impact corridors.

C4: I-43 Rock Freeway – STH 164 Diverging Diamond

Speakers: Danielle Del Conte & Evan Limberatos, WisDOT

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is reconstructing the I-43 and STH 164 interchange as a Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) type. The DDI at this interchange will be the second built within the Southeast Region. This reconstruction is part of the larger I-43 pavement replacement project between STH 83 and STH 164 in Waukesha County that is scheduled to begin construction in early 2026. This presentation will review the planning, design, provide an overview and status of the project.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the planning and selection of alternatives for the I-43 and STH 164 interchange.
• Review the challenges and unique features of designing a DDI at this interchange.
• Provide an update on the project status.

C5: Flex Lane Maintenance/Automated Incident Detection

Speakers: Elizabeth Schneider & Todd Szymkowski, WisDOT

Flex Lane availability is a system performance measure. Maintaining and maximizing the system’s uptime includes routine maintenance and timely repairs. Process improvements from lessons learned have been adopted as the Flex Lanes close in on their fourth year in operation. Plus, learn how WisDOT leverages a wide range of technology to detect and verify disruptions on the transportation network throughout the state.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn how WisDOT ensures the system is operation-ready to maximize uptime and availability for commuters will be summarized in this session.
• Review WisDOT’s process for detecting, verifying and reporting maintenance needs.
• Understand WisDOT vision for leveraging emerging technology to improved detection and verification of traffic incidents and disruptions.

C6: I-39/I-90/I-94 Wisconsin River Bridges – Adventures in Foundation Engineering During Construction

Speakers: David Staab, WisDOT; CJ Winter, Jacobs

WisDOT is currently replacing the bridges carrying I-39/I-90/I-94 over the Wisconsin River in Columbia County. This talk will provide an overview of the challenging geologic conditions that have been overcome during foundation construction of the northbound bridge. We will discuss how a collaborative approach between Owner, Contractor, and Designer led to redesign of foundation elements during construction, overcoming artsian groundwater conditions and rock considerably weaker and more variable than anticipated.

Learning Objectives:

• Emphasize the importance of comprehensive subsurface exploration program during design.
• Appreciate the importance of communication and cooperation between contractors, designers, and owner in addressing adverse geological conditions.
• Exposure to a wide array of potential foundation types and testing procedures that were considered/employed to alleviate logistical and technical challenges.
• Identify different procurement, design, and construction challenges that complicate foundation changes.

Back to Top

D1. Wetland & Stream Mitigation & Updated DNR/DOT Floodplain Agreement

Speakers: Alyssa Hoersten & Edward Lilla, WisDOT

The first portion of the session will cover updates to WisDOT’s regulatory requirements for project impacts to wetlands and streams. WisDOT has adopted the Wisconsin Mitigation Guidelines Version 2 (June 2025), which will replace the Wetland Mitigation Technical Guidelines that the WisDOT Wetland Program has been operating under for over 30 years. The transition to these guidelines will include changes to wetland delineations and impact tracking. The session will also give a broad overview of approaches to avoid and minimize impacts to waterways and when to expect discussions on mitigation requirements. 

The second portion of the session will cover the updated Floodplain Encroachments and Waterway Crossings Attachment to the DNR/DOT Cooperative Agreement signed on October 16, 2025.   The session will focus on a summary of the updated requirements for WisDOT LET projects including coordination with DNR and local zoning authorities, and special situations such as flood storage districts, dam hydraulic shadows, and temporary impacts.  The attachment also includes clarification on other topics such as navigation clearance, FERC areas, and unauthorized dams.  The main goals for the update included incorporating processes for meeting minimum FEMA NFIP requirements and improving language in the agreement to reduce ambiguity and to ensure clarity.

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will have a better understanding of WisDOT mitigation requirements for impacts to wetlands and waterways based on type and amount of resource impacted.
• Attendees will have a better understanding of the contents of the new floodplain attachment including the different levels of coordination required based on floodplain type (Zone A, AE or other) and level of impact (rise, no rise, or decrease). 
• Attendees will be able to identify special situations at waterway crossings including flood storage district, dam shadows, unauthorized dams, and FERC boundaries.

D2: 16^th St Bascule Bridge Rehab

Speakers: Michael Delemont, H&H; Mark Sauer, Mead & Hunt; Jonathan Thomas, City of Milwaukee

Following a brief overview of the movable bridges in Wisconsin, this presentation will explain the design process for this WisDOT local program project, which involves rehabilitating and converting one of the City of Milwaukee's bascule bridges into a fixed bridge. Unique structural details, design decisions and historical considerations will be discussed.  A construction update will also be provided.

Learning Objectives:

• Gain insight into the complexities of movable bridges in Wisconsin.
• Understand the purpose of this project and why the 16th St Bridge no longer needs to be movable.
• Learn about the design challenges associated with rehabilitating a historical movable bridge.

D3: Delivering Projects with Effective Railroad Coordination

Speakers: Joanna Bush, Mead & Hunt; Kris Sommers, WisDOT

Railroad coordination plays a critical role in the successful delivery of highway and local agency projects across Wisconsin. As project types, design strategies, and stakeholder expectations continue to evolve, coordination requirements and timelines can become increasingly complex. Understanding these challenges and how to navigate them is essential to keeping projects moving from design through construction.

In this session, WisDOT staff and their consultant partner will review key railroad coordination considerations and share practical insights from recent project experiences. The discussion will include both traditional coordination requirements and emerging project conditions that are introducing additional coordination needs.

Learning Objectives:

• Review railroad coordination roles and responsibilities
• Understand common coordination challenges that affect project schedules

• Gain a better understanding of how effective railroad coordination supports project schedules, improves collaboration, and helps avoid costly delays.

D4: I-94 East-West Corridor Project Update

Speakers: Gary Ferguson, Jacobs; Sean Race, WisDOT

Join Sean Race (WisDOT) and Gary Ferguson (Jacobs) for an in-depth update on the I-94 East-West Corridor Project in Milwaukee County. This session will explore the project’s background, showcase key design enhancements, and share the latest progress on stakeholder engagement and construction activities.

Learning Objectives:

• Summarize the background and purpose of the I-94 East-West Corridor Project.
• Highlight key design enhancements and innovative approaches.
• Explain stakeholder engagement strategies and lessons learned.
• Review recent construction progress and upcoming steps.

D5: Right-Sizing Design-Build: Lessons from WIS 125 and I-405 SMA DB Projects

Speaker: Lindsay Kaufmann, Michael Baker

Explore how the Design-Build (DB) delivery method can be utilized on projects of various scale to drive better outcomes. This session walks through two contrasting case studies—Wisconsin’s WIS 125 DB project with a construction value of $3.8M and California's I-405 South Multi-Asset DB project with a construction value of $216M — to illustrate how scope, risk, and stakeholder priorities shape DB strategy. Attendees will gain practical insights into aligning DB structure with project complexity, team capabilities, and delivery goals.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the Design-Build Deliver Method
• Analyze real-world applications of Design-Build through project examples
• Identify key factors that influence Design-Build strategy, including risk allocation, stakeholder priorities, and team capabilities. 

Back to Top