Wisconsin DOT earns regional award for innovative WIS 54 safety project in Outagamie County
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) has received national recognition for its innovative work improving safety along State Highway 54 in Outagamie County. In an announcement dated Aug. 28, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) named the WIS 54 improvement project a regional winner in the America’s Transportation Awards competition. The project took top honors in the Best Use of Technology & Innovation category for small projects, one of 12 categories that highlight excellence in transportation design and delivery across the nation. WisDOT officials say the award underscores the agency’s commitment to building safer, more efficient roads for all users.
The WIS 54 corridor runs through the city of Seymour in Outagamie County and serves as a busy east–west link for commuters, truck traffic and farm vehicles. Before the project, the two‑lane highway saw frequent congestion and a growing number of serious crashes at the intersections with County Highway C and French Road. To address those issues, WisDOT redesigned the corridor, adding roundabouts at those intersections, widening the roadway to include dedicated turning lanes, and resurfacing more than six miles of pavement. Crews also improved drainage, installed new signage and lighting and upgraded pedestrian crossings to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Construction began in April 2024 and wrapped up ahead of schedule in September of that year. The $6.1 million investment has already reduced crashes and eased travel through the area, according to WisDOT officials【781797463109485†L219-L244】.
WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman thanked AASHTO for the honor and credited agency engineers and contractors for their creative approach. “The WIS 54 project shows how smart engineering and community collaboration can deliver a safer road while supporting local businesses and agriculture,” Boardman said in the award announcement. “By combining modern roundabouts with additional lanes and improved intersections, we reduced the potential for high‑severity crashes and created a corridor that moves traffic more efficiently for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.” The project also included outreach to farmers and landowners to minimize disruption during construction, as crews timed lane closures around planting and harvest seasons.
As a regional winner, the WIS 54 project will compete for national honors later this year, including the Grand Prize and People’s Choice awards, which come with cash prizes for local scholarship funds. WisDOT notes that public voting will open in the coming weeks and encourages Wisconsin residents to show their support. The agency hopes that recognition from AASHTO will draw attention to the importance of investing in rural highways and using innovative designs like roundabouts to save lives. In the meantime, drivers traveling through Seymour can enjoy a smoother, safer ride thanks to the improvements. WisDOT plans to monitor the corridor over the coming years to evaluate the long‑term benefits and share lessons with other communities planning similar upgrades.