Oak Leaf Trail To Close For Construction, Improvements

MILWAUKEE COUNTY, WI – A popular weekday commuting option for cyclists will be closed for parts of this winter into spring as workers fix drainage problems and widen the Oak Leaf Trail in Milwaukee County.

Reconstruction to address drainage problems along the East Side Oak Leaf Trail, from East Belleview Place to North Prospect Ave. will begin in early November. The $700,000 project is funded in part through a Department of Natural Resources Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program Grant for $168,000 and a contribution of $175,000 from the Urban Ecology Center.

County officials said the East Side bike trail is a frequently used commuter route, and drainage problems have caused it to deteriorate.

“Milwaukee is one of the 50 most bike-friendly cities in the United States, and the planned improvements to our Oak Leaf Trail will only increase use by our strong and growing cycling community,” said Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele.

Phase one of the project will encompass installation of a drainage system. During this phase, temporary weekday trail closures will occur between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. When the trail is closed, trail users will follow the signed detour along surface streets. Phase one is expected to last four to six weeks.

Phase two of the project will begin in spring of 2018, will see the trail reconstructed and widened from its current 10 feet to 12 feet. The trail will be closed during the full duration of Phase two, or about four to five weeks.

Project updates and trail closures will be posted at OakLeafTrail.com.

Patch.com File Photo