Adopt-a-Highway crews keep Wisconsin roadsides clean and green

More volunteers needed—plenty of state highway segments available for adoption

In a typical year, Wisconsin’s 2,900 Adopt-a-Highway groups collect nearly 210 tons of trash and recyclables along state roadways, saving taxpayers’ money and keeping roadsides looking clean and green for state residents and visitors.

“It’s that time of year when our Adopt-a-Highway workers are out picking up a winter’s worth of debris along state highways,” said Rose Phetteplace, director of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s (WisDOT) Bureau of Highway Maintenance. “These volunteers provide a tremendous service to their state and community, and we’re asking drivers to be alert and cautious anytime they approach roadside workers.”

Of the 11,800 miles of state highway in Wisconsin, about 8,600 miles or about 72 percent are adopted, meaning there’s still plenty of room for more volunteers. Groups interested in adopting a state highway segment can find more information on the WisDOT website.

Adopt-a-Highway workers are asked to clean-up their assigned two-mile state highway segment at least three times per year. WisDOT furnishes safety vests, highway worker signs, a safety training video, trash bags, and two permanent signs identifying the group. Each group must provide one adult supervisor for every five or six volunteers. Groups do not work in dangerous areas like medians, bridges or steep slopes. Trash and recyclables are placed along roadways and picked up by county highway workers.