This project expanded bike trail connectivity in Dane County by providing the last link between a network of paths from the Village of Waunakee, through the Town of Westport, to Governor Nelson State Park. Long-term regional planning includes continuation of the trail network to the Bishops Bay development and, ultimately, connectivity to the City of Middleton trail network.

The installation of a new bike path along CTH M extended path access from Woodland Drive towards Governor Nelson State Park. Our project design included more than 1,500 linear feet of boardwalk along a wetland corridor and a bridge over Six-Mile Creek.

Helical steel pilings were utilized to support the timber boardwalk. The pedestrian bridge was a 100-foot-long by 12-foot-wide steel truss. Deep foundation steel pilings with cast-in-place concrete pile caps were designed to support the bridge. The boardwalk and bridge design included hydrologic and hydraulic analysis.

The project included significant coordination with many agencies and stakeholders. The project was funded jointly by the Town of Westport and Dane County and included grant funding from the Department of National Resources (DNR) Stewardship program. The permitting process included coordination to secure permits for DNR Chapter 30 to construct the bridge, DNR Water Resources Application for Project Permits, DNR Wetland Permit, and United States Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Permit.