Douglas County to consider opening highway to ATVs in Lake Nebagamon

Shelley Nelson, Superior Telegram, Wis.
·2 min read

Sep. 8—SUPERIOR — A stretch of Douglas County Highway B from Degerman Road to Fitch Avenue in Lake Nebagamon could soon provide a new route in the village for all-terrain and utility terrain vehicles.

The Douglas County Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Wednesday, Sept. 7, approved opening up the road to ATVs and UTVs.

Highway commissioner Jason Jackman said when the county was considering an ordinance in 2016 to open up county roads to recreational vehicle traffic, village officials asked that the stretch of highway remain off-limits because the village had an alternate route. However, village officials are now asking for the highway to be opened up, he said.

"They talked to me, and I said to send the request to the highway department," said Supervisor Jim Borgeson, who represents the area on the county board.

Borgeson expressed concern about that UTVs, in particular, are using county roads more than trails within the county.

"There are that many more ATVs," said board Chairman Mark Liebaert. "We are seeing the heaviest use we ever saw on our UTV, ATV trails, and they're continuing to build. The ATVs registered in the state of Wisconsin, I think, are already outnumbering snowmobiles and they're being used heavily. When you see them on our roads, they are also on our trails more than they have ever done."

A motion to approve the request was made by Supervisor Scott Luostari, seconded by Borgeson and approved by the committee.

Jackman said the change to the county ordinance will go to the county board when it meets Thursday, Sept. 15. If approved, the highway would have to be posted for ATV use before it is legal to ride between Fitch Avenue and Degerman Road.

A proposal to close a stretch of Douglas County Highway Y with the Gordon Dam County Park approved by the forestry committee Aug. 31 will be considered when the transportation and infrastructure committee meets Oct. 5. Jackman said the forestry committee's decision came too late to get it on the agenda Wednesday.

The forestry committee approved closing Douglas County Highway Y between Chief Kabemabe Scenic Overlook and the Gordon Dam to align the highway policy with the county's prohibition on ATVs and UTVs in county parks. The forestry committee plans to re-evaluate that prohibition over the winter.