The Bureau of Project Development (BPD) is responsible for the delivery of the State Highway and Bridge Improvement Program and the Local Improvement Program. BPD staff develop and maintain the standards, policies and guidance associated with that work. BPD consists of six sections.
Alternative Contracting and Local Program
The Alternative Contracting team oversees and manages alternative methods of project delivery beyond the traditional “design-bid-build” approach, focusing on efficiency, innovation and value. This section is responsible for the procurement process, managing problems and ensuring compliance with federal regulations, state statutes and developing WisDOT policy for these alternative methods.
The Local Program Unit provides support for oversight, planning, budgeting, program implementation and policy and procedure development to assist local governments to improve roads, bridges and public transportation. This includes funding and support for projects such as road and bridge improvements, transit services and other initiatives aimed at enhancing local transportation infrastructure.
Asset, Project Management and Methods Development
The Asset, Project Management and Methods Development team is made up of three units.
- Asset Management implements data-driven policies and procedures to produce prioritized infrastructure improvement and maintenance recommendations on the state system.
- Project Management and Data Services supports project teams by developing and maintaining project management systems, tools, and reports and providing related documentation and training.
- The Methods Development Unit supports design engineering by developing and supporting design tools, workflows, styles and settings that reinforce department standards for design plan and data deliverables.
The section supports project delivery teams by ensuring that projects are prioritized, managed and designed consistently and implements innovative technologies to support business needs, helping to deliver safe and effective infrastructure improvements.
Consultant Services
The Consultant Services team develops, implements and manages the consulting contracting process. They provide oversight to deliver projects that are executed efficiently, within budget and maintain the high-quality standards with which Wisconsinites have come to expect. Consultant Services partners with a diverse community, such as consultants, other state agencies, municipalities and the broader Wisconsin public. Consultant Services provides support from regional offices across the state and central office located in Madison.
Construction Oversight and Automation
The Construction Oversight and Automation team is responsible for management and oversight of the statewide construction program, new policy development and implementation, implementation and oversight of construction technologies and application of good construction management practices. This section manages and develops the department’s construction standards, including the
Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, Supplement Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction and the
Construction and Materials Manual.
This section is responsible for ensuring statewide consistency and quality of the construction program by providing technical expertise in construction operations and contract administration. It provides interpretations of regulations, specifications and policies, offers specialized guidance on analyzing and resolving construction claims and manages statewide enforcement actions. The team also implements all aspects of information technology (IT) systems and associated processes and policies for the construction phases of project delivery.
Design Standards and Oversight
The Design Standards and Oversight team is responsible for establishing, managing and updating transportation design standards in the
Facilities Development Manual (FDM) Chapters
11 and
13. In addition, the section reviews and approves highway design concepts, coordinates policy and program implementation across regions, promotes innovation in design and provides technical support and training to maintain consistent, safe and efficient transportation infrastructure across the department's projects.
Proposal Management
The Proposal Management team is responsible for the management of the department’s construction
bid letting program. The section oversees the advertisement and contract awarding process for projects administered by the department on state- and federally funded transportation improvements.