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Work begins to extend the Hank Aaron State Trail

Posted by Tom Held of the Journal Sentinel on Sept. 27, 2011

trails

 

Work has started on the extension that will connect the Hank Aaron State Trail to Underwood Parkway, a $328,000 project scheduled to be completed in mid-November.

Crews have been digging out the old rail corridor between S. 94th Place and the Parkway, just south of W. Blue Mound Road. That section of the Hank Aaron had been left untouched during the expansion work from the Menomonee Valley in 2010.

This view shows the work area from S. 121st St. to the east.  Photo by Tom Held.

Managers in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Department of Transportation joined forces to finish the link, which will serve cyclists and pedestrians and provide an off-road commuter route from the western suburbs to downtown Milwaukee. Close to 400,000 people live within 15 minutes of the route.

When the extension is finished with crushed gravel, the path will link Lakeshore State Park to the Milwaukee County Oak Leaf Trail, the New Berlin Recreational Trail and the Glacial Drumlin Trail. It will provide a route, largely off-road, from the lakefront to Cottage Grove.

The crushed gravel will be replaced with asphalt following reconstruction of the Zoo Interchange.

The section in blue shows the latest addtion to the Hank Aaron State Trail.

 

21 Comments for "Work begins to extend the Hank Aaron State Trail"

  1. Wow. Really some bike haters here tonight. Maybe if you guys actually get off your fat butts and do something to benefit your health you will see it differently someday and how it will actually benefit Milwaukee in the long run.

    WTFMKE Sep 27, 2011 8:14 PM

  2. The problem with the crushed limestone is when it gets wet. It gets very dirty and pot holes can form pretty easy if it isn't grated often.

    WTFMKE Sep 27, 2011 8:16 PM

  3. Great news. This makes Milwaukee even more accessible to those of us from the west!

    As for the gravel/limestone, most rail-trails around the state are unpaved and people get along just fine. Use a puncture resistant tire in a 25c or larger and its not that big of a deal.

    Ronsta Sep 27, 2011 9:34 PM

  4. This gravel section won't be completed until after the Urban Ecology Center building is done. I talked to Melissa Cook about it this summer - they don't want to put nice asphalt down and then ruin it by driving heavy equipment over it.

    Runner Girl Sep 28, 2011 6:29 AM

  5. A friend and I just rode this whole trail ten days ago. While there are some sections that are a bit loose with regards to the gravel base they were still ride-able. You just need to steer your bike toward the smooth sections. I think if they replace the old stone with crushed stone and then compact it with a heavy roller it should be fine for most all bike types. This can't get done soon enough for me.

    mikeinmke Sep 28, 2011 9:56 AM

  6. I haven't been on the new section, but the gravel section by the VA is very rideable on any type of bike. I'm out there about 3 times a week and usually on my road bike with 700x23s at 145psi. Just stay in one of the two paths that are more compacted, get off your saddle, stay loose on the bars. If you get wonky on gravel stay loose and dont steer to much, you'll wash out.

    ride no evo Sep 28, 2011 12:49 PM

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