Historic U.S. 61: Bike Trail at Dresbach

Looking north on the entrance ramp toI-90. The entrance to the Dresbach rest area is on the right. The southern entrance to the bike path is visible, center. Photo from November, 2006.

A closer view of the entrance to the bike trail. Note the gate blocking the entrance. Photo from November, 2006.

At the beginning of the trail. The start of the old pavement is visible ahead. Also note the retaining wall on the left.

From this perspective its difficult to tell, but that is indeed the original concrete exposed on the right side of the road.

The view of Lock and Dam No. 7 from the old highway. Also note the box car.

At this point, the bike path has moved a bit more onto the right side of the old pavement. Notice the washout on the right.

The washout gives an unusual opportunity to see the full thickness off the original concrete slab from 1927.The pavement was designed to have a nine inch thickness on the edge, and a 7 inch thickness in the center.

A little further north on the trail. Here you can see the elevated grade of the modern Interstate intruding on the grade of the old highway. The original pavement has also been removed north of this point.

Note the railroad tracks on the right. This was the site of a derailment that occurred in December, 2008.

The north end of the old alignment and bike trail. The old highway continued ahead and to the left onto the site of the modern Interstate. The connecting road ahead ("Secluded Road") was constructed in 1964.