The Pierce County Board held the first reading on a resolution to support the designation of the Mississippi River Trail within its county limits. If approved, roads in the county will be incorporated into the trail on handouts and other materials.
The Mississippi River Trail is primarily on the Wisconsin All-American Great River Road National Scenic Byway between Prescott and Illinois state lines. It is also routed on other state and county highways and local roads for alternative bicycling routes.
The trail may be in Pierce County southbound along U.S. Highway 10 from the Minnesota state lines east to near the intersection with Broad Street/Wisconsin 35. The trail also includes Front Street and County Trunk Highways K and V.
The resolution finds that this inclusion will add value to existing roads and trails, contribute to economic development and provide increased recreational and transportation choices for individuals.
Board Supervisor Mel Pittman discussed the potential safety concerns regarding the bike trail route.
“I believe it's in Isabelle Township, on Highway 35 there is a town road that runs to the west on the other side of the airport, and I'm wondering why that town road cannot be used as the route instead of Highway 35,” he said at Tuesday night’s meeting. “My concern in regards to Highway 35 is the fact that there's a lot of trucks, grain hauling trucks that use that road and the amount of pavement on the edge of the road, I just see that as a real danger for bicyclists using that edge of the road and having trucks running through there on a regular basis.”
Pittman said that if that portion of the resolution isn’t changed, then he’ll be voting no.
Speakers on behalf of the trail added that they’d be able to advocate for wider paved road shoulders to benefit these cyclists.
This item will be on the April 15 County Board meeting at 9 a.m. at the County Board Room located at 124 North Oak Street, Ellsworth.
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