Highway 69 Asphalt Trail Could See Future Upgrades, No Timeline Yet
DNR officials say the deteriorating Highway 69 trail is expected to be repaved eventually, but no funding or construction date has been set, even as regular users raise concerns about unsafe conditions and the need for major upgrades.
State officials say a portion of the Highway 69 trail connecting New Glarus to New Glarus Woods State Park is planned for resurfacing in the future, though funding and a construction schedule have not yet been established. The discussion comes as the trail's condition has become a growing concern for many residents who regularly walk, jog and bicycle the route.
Representatives from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Village of New Glarus recently walked portions of the trail to evaluate its condition and discuss possible improvements and funding. The asphalt pathway runs along the west side of Highway 69 from the village to New Glarus Woods State Park, not to be confused with the Sugar River State Trail.
Melissa Burns, park manager for New Glarus Woods State Park and the Sugar River State Trail, said a different paving project is already scheduled for next year.
"Next year (2027) we are repaving the New Glarus Depot parking lot and the Sugar River State Trail where it connects from the parking lot to where it crosses Hwy. 69," Burns said.
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