Repairing the Salmo Boardwalks – Round Three!

Filling in the gap.

On Saturday June 13th, seven volunteers put their creative carpentry skills to work on a problem bridge on the Salmo Trail where it had heaved and created a steep slope that could be hazardous when wet or frozen. Bob Feyen and Jim Steffenson led the crew in leveling the bridge to make it easy and safe again. 

This was the second round of work on this bridge, following the first round which was completed in five-degree weather in early December. It was a complex undertaking as they created temporary supports, removed deck boards and bumper railings along the edge, cut the bridge into pieces, jacked up and dropped sections, installed new posts on metal pans, and replaced deck boards and railings. Fortunately, the weather cooperated for this all-day endeavor; and the bugs weren’t even too bad! 

Cutting the boardwalk before jacking it up.

Low railings were replaced along the edge.

One more deckboard left to install.

In addition to making this section safer, it sets the stage for the next phase of the Salmo Accessibility Project when the Wisconsin Conservation Corps will come to town during the last two weeks of July to install 330 feet of elevated boardwalk and construct a 10’ x 16’ viewing platform along the lakes’ edge. 

The trail will be closed from July 20th – 31st during the project. And, don’t be surprised to see huge stacks of boardwalk materials that will arrive on June 24th.

The steep slope is no longer there.

Let’s give a big round of applause to Bob Feyen, Neil Howk, Gene Lemmenes, Gerry Miller, Jamie Paterson, Rich Ryan, and Jim Steffenson for this awesome work!