The situation?
Maple Ridge Road is a crucial connector in the Town of Kelly linking US 63, STH 112, and the Village of Mason. It accommodates an average daily traffic of 165 vehicles, much of which is associated with forestry and grain operations.
Before the project’s completion, restrictive posted weight limits required farmers and loggers to take multiple trips with lighter loads or lengthy detours, impacting the economics and safety of product transport.
What was the “fix,” and how does it benefit the community?
The Maple Ridge Road project transformed three miles of the existing gravel surface into a durable, full-use paved road, by:
- Elevating the gravel surface with a strengthened base and adding geogrid material beneath the gravel for reinforcing weak locations
- Creating 11-foot driving lanes and 2-foot gravel shoulders for improved safety across hills and curves
- Eliminating posted weight restrictions during the spring thaw, allowing full-load transport of trucks for local farmers, loggers, and sand pit operators
- Supporting a year-round haul route, providing access to thousands of acres in Managed Forest Land, and improving response times for emergency services, such as the Mason Area Ambulance Service
The improvements addressed dust, maintenance, and seasonal reliability issues. The new surface will save labor and mileage, reduce equipment damage, and extend the timber harvest season by over 30 days annually.
Additionally, the road is a key alternate route during emergencies. It connects directly to the Town of Kelly Hall and Maintenance Facility and is vital for emergency response. Faster and safer travel will also aid the Mason Area Ambulance Service’s response time.
The project enabled Maple Ridge Road to become a safer, all-weather route for producers shipping over 6 million pounds of forestry and grain products annually. It supports at least four major operations and eliminates over 200 reduced-weight trips each year.
What made the investment possible?
This road upgrade was possible when the Town of Kelly secured a Wisconsin Department of Transportation Agricultural Roads Improvement Program (ARIP) grant. This grant covers up to 90% of eligible costs, with local sponsors responsible for the remainder. The estimated total cost for this project’s planning, engineering, and construction was $2.35 million, with the grant covering $2.061 million.
The Agricultural Roads Improvement Program (ARIP) is a one-time $150 million state investment established in the 2023-25 Wisconsin budget to enhance rural roads that serve agricultural and forestry producers and support long-term economic growth in Wisconsin’s rural regions. ARIP specifically targets road upgrades that restrict farmer and logger access due to posted weight limits, poor road conditions, or seasonal closures.
