Governor Tony Evers (D) recently signed Senate Bill 461 into law – now called the Wisconsin Act 104 of 2026 – to significantly expand the authority of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to use alternative contracting methods; moving beyond the state’s traditional design-bid-build model to potentially accelerate infrastructure construction projects and, by extension, create better value for taxpayers, the agency said.
[Above photo by Wisconsin DOT]
The new law fully transitions Wisconsin DOT from a pilot program to implementation of a permanent alternative contracting framework; allowing the agency’s teams to use innovative contracting methods such as design-build on a broader scale.
By pairing design engineers and construction teams at the beginning of a project, Wisconsin DOT said it can streamline timelines, foster innovation and address complex infrastructure challenges more efficiently.
“We have seen the success of our initial pilot projects, such as the WIS 130 bridge replacements in Lone Rock, where design-build helped us manage complex environmental and schedule constraints,” explained Kristina Boardman, Wisconsin DOT secretary, in a statement.
“We applaud Gov. Evers for signing this legislation and we look forward to better collaboration with our industry partners to deliver safe, reliable infrastructure across every corner of the state,” she said.
[Editor’s note: Boardman discussed broader project delivery efforts as part of a roundtable session at the 2026 Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting held in Washington, D.C., in late January –helping highlight key focal points for state departments of transportation as work continues in earnest on the next federal surface transportation funding reauthorization bill: namely, to prioritize formula funding, improve safety outcomes, and speed up project delivery.]
Wisconsin DOT noted that key highlights of the new alternative contracting law include:
- Expansion of design-build: Removes the previous six-project limit established under the 2019 pilot program, allowing WisDOT to select the most efficient delivery method for a wider variety of state highway projects.
- Increased budget flexibility: Authorizes Wisconsin DOT to choose alternative delivery methods for projects up to $300 million per fiscal biennium.
- Focus on innovation: Encourages contractors to propose creative engineering solutions that can lower costs or improve project durability.
- Standardized selection process: Implements a technical review committee and qualifications-based selection process that aligns with federal regulations, ensuring transparency and quality in contractor selection.
The agency added that, nationally, alternative project delivery can allow for faster project delivery, increased collaboration with industry partners for creative and cost-effective methods and strengthening overall project quality and continuity. Streamlining such processes enables Wisconsin DOT to continue to deliver high-quality infrastructure improvements more efficiently, the department pointed out.
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