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North Side Or South Side? Trail Into Phelps Brings Debate

Great Headwaters Trails

Determining which side of Highway K should be used for the last two miles of the Conover-Phelps bike trail into downtown Phelps ran into stiff opposition at Tuesday's meeting of the Vilas County highway committee.

Highway commissioner Nick Scholtes said he received many letters that support the bike trail but not on the south side of Highway K where it would cross several private driveways as opposed to the north side crossing only three.

.”

Great Headwaters Trails representative Jeff Currie said one reason for the south side was to save about $100,000 in construction costs. “There are many places in Vilas County where bike trails cross private driveways,” Currie said, mentioning Manitowish Waters. But committee Chairman Charles Rayala, who is from Manitowish Waters, indicated the speed limit there is 35 mph and at Phelps is 45.

Greg Darton and Laura Majewski, landowners, opposed crossing their driveways as a safety concern. Darton claimed Currie came to them five years ago about locating on the south side and we said “absolutely not.” Majewski said “we've been caught off guard with them saying all along it would be on the north side and now they want it on the south side.”

Doyen said the town board would officially take a position and get back to the county in October

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