The Oak Leaf Trail is a Milwaukee gem, a 100-plus mile recreational trail that circles Milwaukee County. Unfortunately, a popular chunk of the popular trail will soon go dark: On Friday, Milwaukee County Parks announced the East Side portion of the Oak Leaf Trail—the segment just north of East Belleview Place to just south of North Prospect Avenue—will be closed for construction May 14 through late June. “The reconstruction project became necessary when drainage problems along the segment caused the trail to deteriorate,” says Milwaukee County Parks in a press release.
Here’s a proposed detour, and here’s the rest of that press release:
MILWAUKEE – Phase II construction on the East Side Oak Leaf Trail, a frequenlty used commuter route, is slated to begin May 14. The segment from just north of East Belleview Place to just south of North Prospect Avenue is expected to be closed through late June. During the closure, trail users will follow a signed detour.
The reconstruction project became necessary when drainage problems along the segment caused the trail to deteriorate.
The first phase of the project, from January to February 2018, addressed ponding on the trail with the installation of a new drainage system to better manage stormwater runoff collecting in the corridor. Also during this phase, a construction ramp at North Bartlett Avenue was built to facilitate the movement of equipment. In Phase II, the ramp will be paved as an access ramp for trail users.
Phase II of the project will see the trail reconstructed and widened from its current 10 feet to 12 feet. Work includes reconstruction of the trail base and asphalt surface.
Milwaukee County budgeted $700,000 for the two-phase project, with additional funding provided 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.
Project updates and trail closures will be posted at OakLeafTrail.com.