>From today's State Journal
Completion of the Badger State Trail in southern Dane County has been delayed until next year. Fitchburg engineer Ahnaray Bizjak said the city had hoped to begin paving the last segment of the 33-mile bicycle trail that runs from Illinois to Madison. When completed, riders will be able to go as far south as Freeport, Ill. But not this year. A $1.1 million federal grant will come too late, she said. [http://www.madison.com/wsj/wsj_img_2006/links_117.gif]<http://www.madison.com/post/forum/index.php?c=5> * Badger Trail site<http://www.badger-trail.com/> "There's no way it can be built this year," Bizjak said, adding that paving will start next spring. The project began more than six years ago when the state Department of Natural Resources started leasing an abandoned rail line from the state Department of Transportation, DNR property manager Steve Johnston said. In July 2007, the southern segment, which is surfaced with finely crushed limestone, opened between Illinois and Purcell Road in Fitchburg. Paving the last 6.1-mile segment between Purcell Road and Madison's Southwest Path will allow it to be used by bike commuters, Bizjak said. The DNR estimates the trail had 176,000 users last year. Johnston said the count includes about 8,000 snowmobilers who use the portion from Paoli south. The number also includes some who use the trail every day. "It's had an incredible amount of use," he said. For information, see www.badger-trail.com<http://www.badger-trail.com/>. - Dee J. Hall Got a question? We'll find the answer. Send them all to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> or Just Ask Us, PO Box 8058, Madison, WI, 53708. Steve Meiers Safety educator (608) 267-1102 [email protected]
<<inline: links_117.gif>>
_______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list [email protected] http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org
