DBE CONTRACTING UPDATE

News for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise firms and stakeholders

November 2009

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Mole Lake Chippewa advance with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding

By Richard D. Ackley, Jr.

The Sokaogon Mole Lake Band of Chippewa located in southern Forest County will receive $738,000 through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to advance its local improvement project known as the Mole Lake Multi-Use Trail. The funding comes through WisDOT via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). According to Pete McGeshick III, a Mole Lake Tribal member and trail coordinator, "This was a total team effort between WisDOT, Cedar Corporation of Menomonie, WI, Coleman Engineering of Iron Mountain, MI and the Sokaogon Chippewa Community."

An earlier Mole Lake Needs and Estimate Summary found that a 2008 Road Safety Audit indicated that the State Trunk Highway 55 pedestrian crossings located at Swamp Creek and Sand Lake Road lacked connectivity of existing pedestrian facilities and was identified as a major safety concern. A young bicyclist was killed near this location approximately seven years ago.

In addition ATV use is a major safety concern as pedestrian and ATV riders share an existing facility. The proposed improvement include a separate clear-span structure of prefabricated steel to be constructed on the west side of the highway to provide a safe crossing for pedestrians. The trail will be signed and delineated to restrict use by ATVs. This transportation enhancement project was designated as a Stage 2 local ARRA 2009 construction season improvement project.

The proposed path will connect the residential developments that exist north and south of the crossing, including the Tribal government offices, the Boys and Girls Club recreation center, Elders Center, historic log cabin visitor's area, Indian Health Service, historical markers as well as the gaming facility, hotel-lodge and conference center.