Dane County providing $1M for next section of North Mendota Trail

Dane County officials announced plans Wednesday to provide Middleton with $ 1 million for the construction of the next North Mendota Trail.

The section will run from the traffic signal at Highland Way and Century Avenue in Middleton to the city’s eastern border just past Signature Drive. The project is meant in part to make traveling along County Highway M safer for bicyclists.

“By developing this trail, we can help keep bicyclists safe and connect even more Dane County residents with new outdoor experiences,” Dane County Executive Joe Parisi said in a statement.

The North Mendota Trail now consists of a 4-mile stretch from the village of Waunakee and the town of Westport to the North Mendota Wildlife Area Prairie Unit and the North Mendota Natural Resource Area. Future phases of the North Mendota Trail will connect the trail to Mendota County Park and the City of Middleton.

The next section is to consist of an at-grade paved path. The city of Middleton will be responsible for planning, designing, building and maintaining the project.

Dane County has been working with Middleton, Westport and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on the North Mendota Trail for the past five years and has spent nearly $2.5 million on the planning and developing the project.