For Business

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Organize Early

Learn more about the project and its timeline
Develop questions for WisDOT staff
Check in with neighboring businesses and/or local business organization

Can you partner on promotions, events or materials?
Establish a point of contact for the business community?

Stay Engaged with the Project

Attend public involvement meeting(s)
Make note of contact information for the project team, and voice the unique needs of your business
Learn more about project resources

Is there a construction website?
Is there a mailing list?
Is there an email distribution list?

Help Customers Find You

Consult with project staff to determine when and where there may be closures or detours
Ask about temporary signage options
Consider how best to inform customers

Maybe a joint communication with neighboring businesses for employees and customers about traffic and parking?
Maybe a feature article in a customer-facing newsletter?
Maybe a social media post shared by businesses and local community pages?

Develop and Activate Your Game Plan

Check out case studies at wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/in-together/case-studies
Connect with project contacts to discuss any potential obstacles specific to your business such as deliveries, operational hours, employee parking, etc.
Check in with employees

Are there temporary changes to shift times, parking or deliveries?
Is there a consistent message for customers?

End of Construction

Stay positive, be flexible and know that WisDOT staff are available to help
Collect any temporary signage
Let customers know!

Consider working with other businesses on a special event
Share information on social media about the project’s benefits
Ask customers to help spread the word

The Road Construction Guide

WisDOT recognizes that businesses located in roadway work zones have special needs, and their customers must have access and continue to visit during construction. WisDOT created the In This Together guide as an idea source to share tips and techniques to support your business during a highway construction. Use the arrows to click through the guide below.

Download the Program Guide

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Cover Image of In This Together Guide: Road Construction Guide for Business; Planning ahead, staying informed, building community. Includes image of traffic cone and sign that says "Open for Business"

Do you own or operate a business?

This guide is meant to help you prepare for WisDOT improvement work. WisDOT's state highway and Local Program projects are meant to improve connectivity and safety. The department appreciates that there are many types of businesses statewide, from those competing for foot traffic in bustling neighborhoods to the supper clubs, hotels and attractions that, alone, serve as roadside destinations. No matter what your business is, who it serves or where it is located, we hope the resources in this guide provide food for thought and inspire productive interactions during project planning and construction.

Introduction

Preparation Roadmap

Working With Work Zones

Getting Organized

Road to Success Checklist

Navigating Work Zones

How It’s Done

End of Construction

WisDOT Project Information Resources

Lifecycle of a Transportation Project

Additional Business Resources

Introduction

Dear Business Owners,

Thank you for your many contributions to Wisconsin’s economy and quality of life.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation works hard to develop and maintain the quality infrastructure you deserve to effectively move goods, deliver services and bring in customers. WisDOT understands that improvement projects can create logistical challenges for businesses of all shapes and sizes, and that these challenges can vary depending on the location and nature of a business. In some cases, businesses are clustered near project sites while other times, the businesses themselves stand alone as roadside destinations.

We call this program “In This Together” because department planners and engineers are passionate about working with project stakeholders to reduce or eliminate impacts that could occur during construction. Your business adds value to any highway improvement, and community partnerships matter greatly to the work that we do. We want you, the business owner, to have a firm understanding of what’s happening, why it’s happening and what the future looks like for any project that has potential to impact your business.

Ideally, this guide will serve as a springboard for productive discussions among WisDOT staff and the business community. So, please take some time to review this information. We hope you find these sources, descriptions and examples to be insightful and helpful.

To your success,
Craig Thompson
Secretary, Wisconsin Department of Transportation