In this chapter:

1. (1) “Bridge” means a structure, including supports, erected over a depression or an obstruction, such as water, highway, or railway, having a track or passageway for carrying traffic or other moving loads, and having an opening measured along the center of the roadway of more than 20 feet between the under copings of abutments or spring lines of arches, or extreme ends of openings for multiple boxes. It includes multiple pipes, where the clear distance between openings is less than half of the smaller contiguous opening.
2. (1m) “Bridge project scope eligibility list” means the list that is developed by the department and made available to local bridge owners with each project funding cycle. The list includes bridges with deficiencies documented in the most recent inspection.
3. (2) “Coordinating agency” means the county which coordinates the submission of applications from eligible applicants within the county to the department.
4. (2d) “Culvert condition rating” means a condition assessment rating of a culvert as defined by the SNBI.
5. (2h) “Deck condition rating” means a condition assessment rating of a bridge deck as defined by the SNBI.
6. (2p) “Deficiencies” are defects and deterioration documented in the most recent bridge inspection. Defects and deterioration are detailed in SIM Part 2.
7. (2t) “Department” means the Wisconsin department of transportation.
8. (3) “Eligible applicant” means county, city, village, town or combination thereof and any federally recognized tribal governing body per s. 20.002 (13), Stats.
9. (4) “Entitlement” means the amount of aids a coordinating agency will be eligible to receive under this section as determined under s. 84.18 (5), Stats.
10. (5) “Fiscal period” means the period of time for which the program is being planned, normally 3 years.
11. (6) “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, and is under the jurisdiction of and maintained by an eligible applicant.
12. (7) “Local bridge project” means a project for the design and construction or rehabilitation of a seriously deteriorating local bridge and minimum approaches.

13. (7d) “NBI” means National Bridge Inventory, the national database of highway bridge inventory and inspection data collected by each state and compiled by the Federal Highway Administration.

    Note: The NBI is available at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/nbi/ascii.cfm

14. (7h) “Preservation” means actions performed that serve to prevent, delay, or reduce the deterioration, of a bridge. This work is a type of rehabilitation, but typically less intrusive and less costly.
15. (7p) “Reconstruction” or “replacement” means the removal of an existing bridge and construction of a new bridge in the same or very similar location.
16. (7t) “Rehabilitation” or “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.
17. (8) “Seriously deteriorating local bridge” means a local bridge with observed deficiencies documented in the most recent inspection.

18. (10) “SIM” means the WisDOT Structure Inspection Manual.

    Note: The SIM is available at https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/doing-bus/eng-consultants/cnslt-rsrces/strct/inspection-manual.aspx

19. (11) “SNBI” means the Specifications for the National Bridge Inventory publication no. FHWA-HIF-22-017, published March 2022 with errata #1 March 2024.

    Note: As required by s. 227.21 (2), Stats., the Wisconsin attorney general approved adoption of these standards on August 25, 2025. Copies of these standards are on file with the department and the legislative reference bureau and may be reviewed at those locations. SNBI is available through FHWA online at https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/bridge/snbi.cfm.

20. (12) “Substructure condition rating” means a condition assessment rating of a bridge substructure as defined by the SNBI.
21. (13) “Superstructure condition rating” means a condition assessment rating of a bridge superstructure as defined by the SNBI.

History

History: Cr. Register, February, 1982, No. 314, eff. 3-1-82; renum. (1) to (8) to be (2) to (4), (1) and (6) to (9) and am. (9), cr. (5), Register, July, 1992, No. 439, eff. 8-1-92; cr. (2m), am. (5), (6), (8) and (9), Register, December, 1999, No. 528, eff. 1-1-00; EmR2509: emerg. cr. (intro.), am. (1), cr. (1m), (2d), (2h), r. (2m), cr. (2p), (2t), am. (3), cr. (7d) to (7t), am. (8), r. (9), cr. (10), (11), eff. 7-28-25; CR 25-022: cr. (intro.), am. (1), cr. (1m), (2d), (2h), r. (2m), cr. (2p), (2t), am. (3), cr. (7d) to (7t), am. (8), r. (9), cr. (10) to (13) Register March 2026 No. 843, eff. 4-1-26.