Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association

Mike Hahn never intended to get into road construction.

He started college by studying to become an industrial engineer.

But along the way, one thing led to another. Each relationship led to a new one. And Hahn never lost one of his guiding principles: Never say never.

"I've always gone into things with the mindset of: get done what you know how to do. You have to have something that is in front of you that you can do. And if an opportunity presents itself, then you take it," Hahn said. "That's just kind of what I've lived by."

Now, more than 25 years later, Hahn is Vice President of Lunda Construction's Wisconsin Region and the 2026 WTBA Board President.

How did he get here? What interesting things has he seen and done? And what's he working toward that fewer than 1% of people in the United States can say they are?

Answers to those questions and much more are in the latest Road Trippin' With WTBA podcast HERE >>>

Episode 12: Never Say Never Podcast Episode · Road Trippin' with WTBA · June 8 · 31m

The two newest WTBA members are some big names you’re likely to recognize.

The WTBA Board of Directors unanimously approved The Walsh Group and Baird Private Asset Management’s membership applications during its bi-monthly meeting Tuesday.

Walsh is a huge contractor based in Chicago, specializing in general contracting, construction management, and design-build projects.

Baird is headquartered in Milwaukee and is one of the largest employee-owned financial services firms in the nation. It has more than 5,400 associates who provide financial expertise around the U.S. and world.

WTBA has added 17 new members since the fiscal year began on Dec. 1, 2025. Please join us in welcoming Baird and Walsh to the association!

A squad car appearing in the rearview mirror makes most drivers anxious.

A State Patrol squad sitting near a new traffic pattern on I-94 this spring? That was a welcome sight for Jason Ivers.

“One hundred percent… It was a huge difference,” Ivers said.

The Hoffman Construction Co. project manager says drivers completely changed their behavior when State Patrol was able to be there, going about 45 MPH through the updated configuration near Highway 53 instead of the frequent 70-plus.

“You have a semi go by you going 65 miles per hour, and all that’s between you and that semi is a barrel, you realize life can be fragile.

"Something bad can happen in an instant,” Ivers said.

With that in mind, State Patrol Troopers specifically focused on Hoffman’s 8 ½-mile reconstruction of the interstate near Eau Claire on Thursday with an added card up their sleeve: a State Patrol airplane tracking cars through the 60 MPH work zone.

What do troopers routinely see in work zones and how many speeders have they caught? Find out more via our story link in the comments.

Uh, yeah, please don't do this, folks.

Those signs aren't just there to protect our workers - they're also to keep you safe and prevent stuff like this.

What a mess.

FEELING STUCK: A motorist in Milwaukee County recently cemented their inability to adhere to signs after physically removing a “road closed” barrier and proceeding to drive into freshly poured concrete at the I-41/894/US 45 and National Avenue interchange.

Crews place barricades and signs for your safety and theirs. Please – never remove or ignore “road closed” or any other types of barriers… or this might happen to you!

Cars and trucks filled a parking lot outside American Family Field as the smell of brats and hot dogs wafted through the air, despite the NL Central-leading Brewers having an off day Thursday.

More than 100 contractors, engineers, and Wisconsin Department of Transportation staff packed into the Tailgate Haus to cheer on another cause close to everyone’s hearts.

The first-ever I-94 East-West Safety Tailgate was a chance for men and women from all walks of the industry to connect, share stories and a meal, and unite under a common goal of work zone safety.

“This is a challenging project, there’s a lot of expectations on a project like this,” WisDOT Southeast Freeway Section Chief Jason Roselle told the crowd. “It requires maximum focus and consistency to make sure this project is successful.”

Work to expand and modernize 3 ½ miles of I-94 running past American Family Field began in 2025, but this year marks the first full construction season for the massive undertaking.

Prime contractors Zignego Company and Zenith Tech, Inc. (Walbec Group) were well represented, along with subs such as Edgerton Contractors, Inc.

“When I look at this event, it's for the mom or the dad that’s on the roller and the cousin or brother that’s on the paver,” Walbec Executive VP of Operations Brian Enders said. “They’re trying to get home to somebody they care about and someone that cares about them.”

The two-hour tailgate included a short program, a fully catered lunch from Brewers concessions staff, plenty of swag and freebies, and the chance for photos with Bernie Brewer.

Enders hopes attendees used the short break from work to level set on what really matters most.

“Many years from now, we will never remember if we were five days late to get that project done or if it costs a few extra dollars because we had to put a few more barrels out there,” he said. “If we lose somebody on a project, that’s something we’ll never forget."

Shannon Zimmerman has crossed the St. Croix River on the I-94 bridges too many times to count.

He’s just never experienced it like this before.

“It’s stimulation overload. There’s cars going every which direction,” Zimmerman said.

The state representative from River Falls found himself walking on the freeway bridge Monday afternoon. Prime contractor Lunda Construction Company showed WI Rep Shannon Zimmerman around their multi-stage worksite as part of the latest WTBA of Tomorrow site visit.

Lunda is replacing modular joints, doing an epoxy overlay, and painting the bridges that connect Hudson, Wisconsin with Lakeland and Stillwater, Minnesota.

The project maintains three lanes of traffic going east. Meanwhile, one westbound lane crosses over to the eastbound bridge and another westbound lane is open on the other side of the work zone.

“It’s one thing to be in a vehicle when you’re going through that zone, it’s a very different thing to be outside that vehicle,” Zimmerman told WTBA. “It made me think about the safety element for the workers who are out there every single day.”

Zimmerman got to meet some of those workers, including Lance Wallis, Jason Sterry, and Lunda Area Manager Josh Simonson.

“I just wanted him to see the challenges that sometimes we’re put in,” Simonson said. “When we’re trying to get concrete truck deliveries and full-sized semis to deliver equipment, it gets challenging.”

Between 80,000 and 90,000 vehicles cross the river daily, serving as a direct artery between the Twin Cities and the rapidly growing western part of Wisconsin. Crews are reminded of that volume by the constant whoosh of traffic going by on both sides.

“People get in these tight traffic jams, it actually slows them down, which is nice. Not so nice for the traveling public, but there’s always people that are not paying attention or speeding, so there’s always a risk there,” Simonson said.

All four stages are on track to be done in October. The nearly $10 million price tag and the temporary traffic congestion are well worth it to Zimmerman, especially after seeing it from a whole new perspective.

“When you can see the work that happens in a committee room hundreds of miles away and now you’re seeing the real work and the result of that, it’s incredibly gratifying,” Zimmerman said of his tour.

“There’s a few things you don’t ever compromise on: public safety and our roadways.”

Let's be honest.

We know our members would show up whether it's 35 and sleeting or 95 and humid like the Everglades. They're made for working in the elements.

But it doesn't hurt that the weather was absolutely PERFECT for our Spring Sporting Clays Tournament late last week at The Highlands in Sheboygan County. Temps in the upper 60s, plenty of sun, and a slight breeze... well... hit the mark.

More than 150 folks from across our member companies and types gathered for a fantastic day of fun with a good dose of competitive nature mixed in.

Thanks to all who joined us! We look forward to seeing many of you in July when we trade shotguns for sand wedges at Trappers Turn.

Time was running short.

You don’t keep the Green Bay Packers’ Chairman Emeritus waiting in the wings for long.

That’s when inspiration struck for Steve Baas, who was looking for a way to wrap up a panel discussion on transportation at the Construction Business Group's annual conference.

“Mark Murphy and the Packers didn’t win a Super Bowl overnight,” Baas said, gesturing to a smiling Murphy, who was standing in the back of the room. “Reaching our goal takes the same kind of commitment.”

Indeed, just as it took Murphy and former GM Ted Thompson time to develop Aaron Rodgers, draft stars like Clay Matthews, lure Charles Woodson to Green Bay, and win Super Bowl XLV, it will take a step-by-step, patient approach to fill a more than $1 billion transportation funding shortfall in Wisconsin.

“A little win here, a little free agent there, a little move here, and we’re eventually going to get there,” Baas said.

Baas was joined on his panel by Wisconsin Department of Transportation Secretary Kristina Boardman, Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin Executive Director Debby Jackson, and Wisconsin Towns Association’s Joe Ruth. They were the final segment of the all-day conference in Madison prior to Murphy’s closing keynote address.

(Read more about the conference via the link in comments)