Trails From Freeport gets $1.6 million federal grant

The US Department of Transportation has awarded the Trails From Freeport group a $1.6 million grant to reconstruct 2.5 miles of River Road and build a 2.4 mile bicycle and pedestrian trail between Decorah and Freeport.

The grant is administered through the Department of Transportation's Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program.  It will pay all but $550,000 of the project cost.  The rest of the project cost will be handled through in-kind contributions and $190,000 in private donations.

The grant means the entire Trout Run Trail extension will be built, with the Freeport spur extending to the Haugen-Hummel subdivision.  Construction is expected to begin next April.  Freeport residents have been raising money for the bicycle trail extension because of what they say are dangerous conditions for bike riders using the Old Stage Road.