Rhinelander, WI – October 21, 2022— As part of the Great American Outdoors Act infrastructure maintenance funding, the 187-01.8 bridge (on FR187 Mineral Lake Road, where it crosses the Brunsweiler River) is scheduled for replacement starting the week of October 24. Travelers are advised to watch for the road closure at the bridge and choose available reroutes.
Travelers can use available reroutes such as FR198 and FR387. The Beaver Lake Campground and Morgan Falls and St. Peter’s Dome Recreation Area can be accessed by Forest Road 187 (Mineral Lake Road) from the North or by Forest Road 198 (Beaver Lake Road) from the West. Using the Great Divide District Motor Vehicle Use Map available on-line at the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest website or smartphone apps like Avenza is recommended for those unfamiliar with the area.
The bridge is on one of the primary routes to the Morgan Falls and St. Peters Dome recreation site, one of the most popular recreation areas on the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Replacing the bridge will improve visitor experience and provide sustainable access and opportunities for increased recreational activities like fishing, hunting, gathering, hiking, and dispersed camping. The bridge improvement is also necessary to support gravel hauling for road maintenance and for timber hauling operations expected in the next several years.
The bridge rehabilitation contributes to rural community economic development supporting visitor use providing tourist dollars to local rural communities, and timber hauling operations contribute to Wisconsin’s important forest products industry.
Work is projected to continue into the end of November.
Please visit our website for more information about the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest and follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/CNNF002 and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CNNF002.
