Politics & Government

Burleigh Road Bike Path Plans Get Public Input

Familiar debate is heard from the public, with those in favor liking the safety aspect the trail will provide along Burleigh Road, but others concerned with loss of property and trees.

Almost as soon as "I'm 100 percent in favor of this β€” there are way too many pedestrians and cyclists that are on Burleigh" could be overheard during a public information meeting on the bike path planned for that route, there was dissent.

"Does this have to be so far off the road? I'm concerned over what trees I'm going to lose and the proximity of this trail to my home," said Brookfield resident Johnny Warber to city planners.

The three-quarter mile bike path will run along the north side of Burleigh Road from Brookfield Road to Marti Lane, and Jennifer Stilling, project engineer with the city, said construction will likely begin in June.

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"Overall we're finding that residents are in favor of these pathways, in part for safety, but also because it provides a good sense of community in that people can walk or ride on them to get to other neighborhoods," she told Brookfield Patch.

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The path will be six feet wide and made of asphalt, and although the project is a "done deal," planners said meetings like this give residents an opportunity to see how the path will impact their properties, and allow for possible tweaks to the exact path.

"The biggest complaint we generally hear is that the path is too close to people's homes, along with those in favor who say they don't like to see cyclists on the road," Stilling said.

Reaching a happy medium is a part of the process, but not every concern will be addressed, as Alderman Bob Reddin, whose district will be impacted by the construction, explained to Warber.

"The guys who think they're training for the next Tour de France will likely stay on the roadway β€” they're never going to use these trails, however it's families with children out for a ride who will, and that's why we are building this," he said.

With plans nearing completion, Stilling said the next step will be to bid out the project in May. The bids will be presented for approval at the Public Works Committee meeting in May, with the Common Council to give its final approval afterward.

A similar meeting is planned for Monday, March 25 for theΒ Brookfield Road bike path, but no time has been set yet.


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