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Wagon Wheel Trail delayed by environmental reviews; construction timeline now points to 2027–28
Summary
Committee members were told state- and federally listed species found along the Wagon Wheel alignment triggered a U.S. Fish and Wildlife biological assessment and additional state permits, delaying design and pushing letting and construction into 2027–28; project cost is estimated at about $7 million with a TAP grant covering part of the funding.
A staff member briefing the Bicycle History and Advisory Committee on Dec. 9 said environmental reviews and required interagency permits have delayed the Wagon Wheel Trail design by roughly a year, and pushed major construction into 2027–28.
"We were notified that we had to complete a U.S. Fish and Wildlife biological assessment," the staff member said, adding that obtaining the biological opinion typically takes about a year. The consultant team also found state- and federally listed species that require incidental-take permits from Minnesota and Wisconsin DNRs and other agencies.
The staff member said draft plans and specifications are roughly 90% complete but cannot be submitted to Wisconsin DOT until the environmental document is signed and several interjurisdictional agreements are finalized, including maintenance arrangements among MnDOT, Wisconsin DOT, the cities of La Crosse and La Crescent and other partners. "So it's one step at a time before we can actually move on to the next phase," the staff member said.
Staff gave a schedule that, if approvals proceed on the current timetable, would put the final plans and specifications to Wisconsin DOT in February 2027, with letting and award around July 2027 and construction starting in roughly September 2027. The presentation noted that bridge work must begin before April to avoid impacts to migratory birds and bats, and that mussel relocation work is planned in 2027 separate from the main construction contract.
On cost, the staff member said: "We're estimating roughly around $7,000,000 for the entire project," and that the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant accounts for about $4,000,000 of that total. Committee members were also told the project requires multiple permits and federal reviews, including FHWA and U.S. Coast Guard review of the environmental document and coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and state pollution-control agencies.
Committee members asked about construction sequencing and maintenance responsibilities for the new shared-use path. The staff member said new piers for the pedestrian connection will sit on their own foundations and be connected to the existing roadway bridge; maintenance agreements under negotiation will assign sidewalks and the shared-use path to city maintenance while the DOT or county handles the roadway.
The committee did not take any formal votes on the Wagon Wheel project at this meeting; members requested additional checklists and status updates as the team completes required environmental approvals and intergovernmental agreements.
