The rail bed was cleared and graded for a distance of 3 miles north of Three Lakes.
The old logging route on Wausau Paper land was cleared and then multiple truckloads of sand and gravel were brought in to level and smooth the surface.
We believe this route was once used by a narrow gauge rail system as part of a logging operation.
Looking south, this will be the north abutment for the new bridge that will cross Mud Creek.
Though most of the Trail will be quite flat there will be some small hills along the way.
There is a nice mix of trees along the Trail through the Wausau Paper Company property.
In a few places it was necessary to cut a new path through the woods. This is between the sites of north boardwalk and the bridge.
Big equipment is needed to clear the Trail prior to grading.
Grading clears the way for the base layer of sand and gravel.
It is not fun to be stuck in an 80,000 pound dump truck.
The construction vehicles need to wait their turn to access the Trail.
This section is waiting for sand, gravel and limestone. Then it will be ready for three full seasons of fun times through the beautiful north woods!
Some sections are already ready to ride. Final preparation of the limestone surface will take place in May of 2007.
Site of the Mud Creek Bridge looking north from the south abutment.
This limestone is ready for grading and compaction.
There will be a few sections of the Trail with a bit more elbow room.
Brush and stump removal is part of the project.
Some people just can’t wait to get out and use the Trail. And, everyone is welcome to explore it – just be extremely careful to avoid any encounters with construction equipment.
Three inch diameter galvanized steel helical piling is used to support the boardwalks in wetland areas.
The pilings are turned
into the marsh soil
using powerful
hydraulics. All work is performed
with minimal
environmental
impact.
2” x 12” timbers
are used to tie the helical
pilings together.
The 2”x10” stringers
are overlapped and braced for
maximum strength.
Taking shape and starting
to look like a boardwalk.
Railings
are in place to provide
a safe route
across
boardwalk #1.
Build as you go is
the procedure that had
to be
followed on Boardwalk
#2 as it traverses a
Black Spruce Swamp.
Guiding the next
piling to be sure
it goes in
straight on Boardwalk
#2.
Sunset on Boardwalk
#1.
Even in winter
the Trail beckons.
And the
Trail north
of Rice Lake
road is available
for
cross country
skiing and snowshoeing
through
the winter.
(the section
from
Three
Lakes to Rice
Lake Road is a groomed
snowmobile trail
during snowmobile
season.)
The new bridge over
Mud Creek. Smooth approaches
should be added before the end
of May.
The view from the
new bridge will give a new perspective
over the river landscape. Beaver,
Otter and various waterfowl
are often evident.
.
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