Old Plank Road Trail I-43 Tunnel at Erie Avenue Trailhead to reopen July 8

The Sheboygan County Planning and Resources Department will reopen the tunnel under Interstate 43 at the beginning of the Old Plank Road Trail on Thursday morning, July 8.

The tunnel at the Erie Avenue Trailhead has been closed to allow contractors to sandblast, seal, and paint the walls and ceiling in order to make the tunnel brighter, safer, and more appealing for users of the Old Plank Road Trail.

Due to the new lights for the repainted tunnel being on back order, temporary lighting will need to be installed prior to the July 7 reopening. Temporary lighting will result in minimal yet safe illumination for the interior of the tunnel. The new lighting units are scheduled to arrive and be installed by the middle of August. The tunnel will again be closed for approximately a week to install the new lighting units. Media announcements will be made and temporary signs will be posted prior to the closing of the tunnel again in August.

Progress on the reconstruction of the pavement and grassy shoulder of the Old Plank Road Trail between Rangeline Road and State 32 has suffered some setbacks due to the weather. When this phase is completed, then the next segment of the Old Plank Road Trail between State 32 and State 57 will be reconstructed. Repairs will then be made to the balance of the pavement between State 57 and Greenbush as the last phase. The entire reconstruction and repair project should still be completed by the middle of August.

The Planning and Resources Department apologizes for the inconvenience these temporary closures may cause for the users of the Old Plank Road Trail. But these inconveniences now will ensure that the trail and the tunnel are safer, better suited for multiple uses, and more enjoyable to users long into the future.

For more information, contact Jim Hulbert, director, Planning and Resources Department, at 920-459- 3765.