You Can't Get There from Here

Question: Why did the chicken cross the road?

Answer: He didn’t.

He couldn’t. That’s because it was Highway 13 in Rome. He would have been crazy to try.

Too bad there wasn’t a tunnel. A safe way to get from here to there.

Well, here’s some news that the chicken - and anyone else who’s been confined to one side of the road or the other - is sure to be excited by;

The Visit Rome organization has recently gained approval to, not only build that tunnel, but to ultimately create a walking and biking trail that connects Lake Arrowhead, Lake Camelot, and Lake Sherwood – and much, much more.

That’s right, soon you’ll be able to walk or bike from one lake to another. You’ll be able to get to the beaches and parks. You’ll be able to visit the Rome Town Center and everything it has to offer. You can shop at the Farmers’ Market, play in the Splash Pad, visit the Lester Library, go to the bars and restaurants, and even go to church, all without having to dodge the cars and trucks flying by on Highway 13.

The project, fittingly called “Link the Lakes,” had been bandied about for many years, but failed to get any real traction until a group of bicycling enthusiasts who call themselves DRAFT (Discover Rome Area Family Trails) took the mantle. Once they put their collective mind to it, they were relentless. With regular meetings, DRAFT interviewed people and conducted research which confirmed what they already knew. The area needed a way to get from one place to another, safely, and importantly, in tune with the natural resources that make Rome what it is – a town rich in lake culture and a widespread outdoorsy lifestyle.

Gregory Broniec, one of the founders of DRAFT, and a long-time resident of Rome, had a smile from ear to ear as he talked about the prospects of the trail system.

“We’ve been working at this for a long time. It’s going to be a happy day when we see our friends and neighbors hiking and biking back and forth, going to places they could never get to before.”

The initial phase of the project will consist of a tunnel under Hwy 13 just south of West Queens Way and a paved shared-use path from the west end of the tunnel to Aniwa Lane, including a pedestrian bridge over 14 Mile Creek.

Construction of phase one is scheduled to commence in early 2025 and officially open to foot and bicycle traffic in just a few short months thereafter.

But this is just the beginning. It’s the “heart” of a more extensive trail system that will be completed in future phases. Though the details haven’t been fully finalized, these future phases will focus on improved conditions of already paved routes as well as adding new segments to the trail, again with an emphasis on safety and synergy with nature.

You might be thinking, this is all well and good, but what’s it going to cost the taxpayers. Well, here’s the best part; the entire thing won’t cost you or me a single red cent!

That’s because the planners have worked hard to gain support from many sources including the Wisconsin State Legislature, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, and the Town of Rome. And they are optimistically waiting to hear the good news on two large potential grant awards.

“There’s no way we could have gotten this far without a united approach from these supporters, funding partners, and community members. It’s really happening. Link the Lakes is becoming a reality,” said Visit Rome’s Lisa Kubis, one of the project leaders.

The tunnel and trail system will be maintained year-round, including snow removal, by the Town of Rome’s Department of Public Works, likely with the help of trail stewards and community partners such as DRAFT.

So, again we’ll ask: Why did the chicken cross the road?

Answer: Because now he could.

Written by: Lydell Capritta

To find out more, including answers to frequently asked questions, go to visitromewi.com/link-the-lakes. Or to see how you can get involved, contact DRAFT at draftromewi@gmail.com.