Lawe Street Trestle Trail, City of Appleton

The City of Appleton converted an abandoned railroad trestle bridge over the Fox River into an aesthetic multi-use trail that expands the riverfront trail system and connects Lawe Street to the Eagle Point Senior Living complex. The conversion also provides a key linkage between the North Island and Eagle Point Trails and adds a connection between the Lawrence University area to the larger pedestrian and bike travel network in this historic part of the city, anchoring the east end of downtown.

Ownership research and acquisition/negotiations were required in order for the City to purchase the abandoned 103-year-old trestle from the CN Railroad, a process which took nearly 10 years to complete. Challenges encountered during design and construction included contaminated soils and structural rehabs that were required in order to safely install the proposed trail.

The new trestle trail is 575 feet long and utilizes eco-friendly composite plank decking and LED lighting. There are two cantilevered scenic overlooks in the middle that provide aesthetic views of the river and the University. In addition, costs for restoring and relocating the City’s iconic Houdini sculpture were included in the project and the work of art now has a permanent home at the entrance to the trail.