Regionwide Tree Clearing

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is soliciting proposals for regionwide tree clearing across two project areas (Area 12 and Area 13) along USH 14 in Dane County, with proposals due November 10, 2026.

The scope encompasses tree clearing, erosion control, traffic control, site mobilization, and all incidental work necessary to complete the project as shown on the plans. The contract requires coordination with 16 utility companies and districts, including Alliant Energy, Madison Gas & Electric, AT&T Wisconsin, and Frontier Communications, with notification periods ranging from 3 working days to 30 calendar days depending on the utility. Area 12 involves more than one acre of land disturbance and requires WPDES Transportation Construction General Permit (TCGP) coverage; Area 13 involves less than one acre and is exempt from TCGP requirements. The contractor must comply with Section 404 Transportation Regional General Permit standards for wetlands work and Wisconsin's aquatic invasive species control procedures, including equipment decontamination protocols. Work is subject to minimum notification requirements of three calendar days for shoulder closures and three business days for lane and ramp closures. Holiday and special event work restrictions apply during specified periods from November 2025 through January 2027, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day, and MLK Day.

The contractor retains ownership of timber salvaged from clearing activities and must properly dispose of or utilize the material rather than burning or burying it on the right-of-way. Bid items include Site Mobilization, Site Traffic Control, Semi-Permanent Restoration, and various traffic control configurations for different road conditions; pricing is on a unit-price basis to be determined. The contract requires prompt subcontractor payment within 10 calendar days of receiving progress payments with no retainage withholding permitted.