84.18 Local bridge program.

(1) Purpose. The local bridge program is created to accelerate the reconstruction or rehabilitation of seriously deteriorating local bridges.

(2) Definitions. In this section:

(a) “Coordinating agency" means the county which coordinates the submission of applications from eligible applicants within the county to the department.

(b) “Eligible applicant" means county, city, village, town or combination thereof.

(c) “Entitlement" means the amount of aids a coordinating agency will be eligible to receive under this section as determined under sub. (5).

(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.

(e) “Local bridge project" means a project for the design and construction or rehabilitation of a seriously deteriorating local bridge and minimum approaches.

(f) “Seriously deteriorating local bridge" means a local bridge exhibiting deficiencies that meet the criteria established by the department.

(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).

(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.

(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.

(6) Execution and control of work. Subject to s. 30.2022 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.

(7) Rules. The department shall adopt rules to implement this section.

(8) Exceptions. Nothing in this section prevents construction or rehabilitation projects under other bridge programs if applicable.

History: 1981 c. 20, 314; 1989 a. 31; 2003 a. 118.