WASHBURN COUNTY -- Beginning June 1, a portion of the Wild Rivers State Trail will be detoured because of the construction of a new ATV bridge over new US 63. The work is part of the construction of the US 53 interchange in the Washburn County town of Trego.
Just south of existing US 63, trail users will be detoured west and then east along the shoulder of US 63 to Lakeside Road and its bridge across the Namekagon River. Concrete barriers will separate trail users and motorists on US 63, and signage will be added to US 63 to alert motorists to ATVs.
To improve safety and address operational issues along US 53, work on the two-year $17.7 million Trego interchange project began in mid-March with tree cutting and burning. The project entails:
- Reconstructing US 53 from Mackey Road to existing US 63.
- Relocating US 63 to closely follow the existing Wild Rivers State Trail.
- Constructing a new grade-separated interchange connecting US 53 with realigned US 63.
- Constructing a new west frontage road from Mackey Road to County E.
- Constructing turn lanes along US 53 at existing intersections including Mackey, O’Brien and Ross roads.
No work is planned on the existing railroad bridge that users of the Wild Rivers State Trail use to currently cross the Namekagon River. In addition, the parking lot for the trail in Trego near Park and 1st streets will remain open.
Construction of the entire project is scheduled for completion in fall 2022. The schedule is dependent on favorable weather conditions and construction progress.
Last Update: May 20, 2021 10:28 am CDT
