Cost of delaying road projects pegged at $160 million

A plan by Gov. Scott Walker’s administration to delay major road projects will cost drivers $160 million or more over two years, according to a projection released Monday by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

The report, paid for by a transportation group, found that inflation will cause $80 million for each year of delay for four major projects. The Department of Transportation announced last week it was delaying those four projects — and one other one — for two years.

The report came as the DOT disclosed Monday it was preparing a second list of projects that would face delays. Those rehabilitation projects are generally lower profile than the costly projects already facing delays.