For the Rapids City Times

BIRON – Wood County, the village of Biron, and Classic Development Corp. have completed work on a newly constructed and relocated one-mile section of Wood County Highway U (CTH U) in the village of Biron.  The new road will be open to motorists on July 29

This new section of CTH U is located between Huffman Road/ 64th Street and the Wood / Portage County line, in the northeast portion of Biron, and in the Bridgewater Development area.

Fully-improved home sites will be available for fall 2019 construction. Submitted image.

The planning, design, regulatory approvals and construction of the new roadway was a collaborative effort involving Wood County, the village of Biron, Classic Development, the Biron Licensee Group, Consolidated Water Power Company (CWPCO), the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and numerous other state and federal agencies.

The opening of this newly constructed section of CTH U is the first step in a multi-phase project that will create significant improvements in public safety and provide much greater public access to the Biron Flowage/Wisconsin River in Biron.  With the relocation of CTH U, numerous public recreational improvements will now be constructed on land where CTH U was previously located, and other abutting lands.

Improvements include: An accessible multipurpose recreational trail with shore fishing bump-outs along the Biron Flowage/Wisconsin River; a new public boat landing with paved parking for 100 vehicles – 80 with trailers, a restroom facility, and boat wash station; a new 47-acre CWPCO-owned public green space with a restroom/shelter facility, parking area for 30 vehicles, and a trail to the multipurpose recreational shoreline trail; and a new village of Biron park – Sunset Point Park – which will be located along the shoreline of the Biron Flowage/Wisconsin River and adjacent to the multipurpose recreational trail. Amenities will include a parking area and handicap accessible fishing and viewing pier.

Many of these improvements are being funded by the village of Biron with the assistance of matching grants awarded to Biron by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  The CTH U road relocation and other recreational improvements are being funded by the Biron Licensee Group and Classic Development.

A new village of Biron street, Anchor Landing Drive, will provide access to the new boat landing/parking facility, and existing Biron businesses, Anchor Bay Bar and Grill and Rapids Prop.  Anchor Landing Drive, scheduled to open in the next few weeks, will intersect directly with the new CTH U.

The Bridgewater residential development is also currently under construction in the areas immediately adjacent to the relocated CTH U.  Bridgewater waterfront and water access residential home sites are currently available for contracting.  Home sites in the development will be served with village of Biron municipal water and sanitary sewer services.  Fully-improved home sites will be available for fall 2019 construction.