Construction on the final phase of the Jefferson County Interurban Trail is set to kick off next week.
According to the Jefferson County Parks department, the next portion of the trail that will be under construction will help link the trail to Oconomowoc.
The new construction will notably feature a bridge that stretches across the Rock River.
The portion of trail under construction will be a 2.8 mile stretch that will expand the trail from County Highway F in Ixonia to the Jefferson and Waukesha County Line.
In total, the new interurban trail will measure 9.8 miles in length.
Jefferson County hopes that the trail will end up stretching a full 11 miles in length, spanning across two counties and connecting two communities.
The layout for the trail was built on the tracks of an old trolly car rail corridor that was originally owned by WE Energies. A licensing agreement has allowed to county to use the former access road for the benefit of the community.
Currently, there are about 7 miles of trail that are fully paved and open to the public for use. The new construction will also be fully paved as well.
The final stretch of trail will be one mile long. Its construction will be helmed by the City of Oconomowoc and Waukesha County. The connection will end at 2nd Street in Oconomowoc.
If all work goes according to plan, the interurban trail will hopefully be completed in 2026.
The trail will ultimately link Watertown, Ixonia, and Oconomowoc. It will also provide a direct link to the Lake Country Trail.
The trail is free to access and features both ADA compliant bathrooms as well as paving that makes it wheelchair accessible. It is open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Parking is available at the trailhead, which is located at the intersection of Humboldt Dr. and Clark St. in Watertown. The trailhead also offers guests restrooms, water bottle filling stations, signage, and tools for biking.
This remote trail is the perfect spot to get away from the bustle of life. The 10 foot wide trail has plenty of space for bikers, hikers, runners, and anyone looking to enjoy the beauty of Wisconsin’s outdoors.
The Jefferson County Parks system has asked locals to be aware of construction crews working around the area, taking extra safety precautions while driving.
