SAA prepared the construction documents and specifications for the Badger State Trail in Fitchburg, Wisconsin during the fall of 2009. This 6-mile paved path travels within an abandoned rail corridor, closing a gap between the commuter trail system in Madison and the existing trail to the south, allowing a cyclist to ride a bike path from the state capital all the way to the Illinois State Line. The trail, which runs adjacent to wetland areas, includes nine road crossings and four bridges.
The project was administered under the WisDOT’s Transportation Enhancement (TE) program, and was funded with federal transportation dollars as well as funds from the Wisconsin’s Stewardship Program. SAA coordinated project approvals with the WDNR, WisDOT and the City of Fitchburg. The completion of this segment closed a gap in the southern Wisconsin trail system and is anticipated to be one of the most popular cycling thoroughfares in the state with ridership projected to be between 170,000 and 225,000 cyclists per year. The trail opened in Fall 2010.