Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By TOM LAVENTURE
Hurley — Two area highways may soon allow all-terrain vehicle traffic to serve as connection segments with area trail systems, following action at the Iron County Highway Department Committee meeting on Tuesday.
The committee 3-0 recommended approval for all-terrain, utility-terrain, and off-road vehicles (ATV/UTV/ORV) use on state highway 169 from U.S. 2 to Vogues Road, and for state highway 122 from county highway B to the Michigan state line. The meeting was officiated by Tom Thompson Jr., vice chair, with the absence of Larry Youngs, chair, along with commissioner Karl Krall.
County highway commissioner Mike Swartz said his office received several requests to allow ATV/UTV/ORV use on state highway 122 to county road B and the Michigan state line. The town of Gurney requested ATV/UTV/ORV use on state highway 169 from Vogues Road to the Iron Horse Trail near U.S. 2, he said.
The recommendation will now go to the Iron County Board of Commissioners for consideration at the May 25 meeting, he said. If the county board approves the recommendation then the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will have final authorization.
“It’s up to them (DOT) whether to approve these routes,” Swartz said.
If the county and the DOT approve the designation then in order to open up the highways to ATV/UTV/ORV use there would need to be appropriate signage posted to indicate authorized use to riders and as a caution for motorists, he said.
Steve Hamilton and Jerry Nezworski were present from the Gogebic Range Trail Authority to speak in favor of ATV/UTV/ORV use on the highway. Hamilton reviewed the state statute that allows towns, villages, cities or counties to designate by ordinance a state highway that is not under its jurisdiction as an ATV/UTV/ORV route with DOT approval. In addition a local municipality ordinance may authorize ATV/UTV/ORV use on a highway within municipal boundaries where posted speed limits are 35 mph or less — subsequent to DOT review to verify appropriate designation.
The committee discussion focused on the need to use the county roads where it was possible and safe to serve as connection points between trail systems for safety and convenience. The interest in helping to promote commerce in the region was also considered as well as improving trail access to Saxon and Saxon Harbor.
The highway committee considered but did not include a recommendation to authorize ATV/UTV/ORV use on U.S. 51 from county highway FF to Pierpont Drive.
In other business, Swartz said the construction of the new county highway facility in Mercer is down to the final “punch list” of items to complete the county’s portion of the work to include some painting, concrete aprons and paving. With the summer work mounting in other projects Swartz said the department contracted $4,800 of remaining work to Pitlik & Wick Inc.
The board later discussed having an open house event at such time that the building is ready.
In the commissioner’s report, Swartz said paving on County Road B was to start at the end of May but likely won’t be ready. For the time being the county has graveled the road until paving can start.
The committee approved a recommendation to chip seal a 2.2 mile section of County Road H from Cedar Ridge Road toward Pine Forest Road. The estimates for chipsealing are around $15,300 per mile to include a fog seal emulsion coat by Scott Construction, Inc., Swartz said. The new project will bring the chip sealing work to around $35,000.
Swartz said he requested estimates to re-sheeting the salt dome roof in Mercer. The state will pay for the project as they own the building.
The department has hired three part time employees for the summer from four applicants. Two of the workers have a CDL from the program at Gogebic Community College.
The committee approved a request from Swartz that the part time workers receive $15 per hour when driving that involves a CDL. The non driving wage is $12 per hour.
Other highway projects including stormwater retention ponds, shaping and gravel parking lots and seeding off-road areas are all in progress and nearing completion, Swartz said.
