WILTON — A trestle over Wilson Stream on the Whistle Stop Trail in East Wilton is being rebuilt due to safety reasons and dry rot that has affected the structure.
According to Western Maine ATV Club member Karen Dalot, the state is hiring a contractor to do the work. The Whistle Stop Trail will be closed this spring during the rebuilding process.
Dalot said that the state will be completing the rebuild during mud season so as to not negatively impact the ATV riding season. The trestle will be made wider to accommodate the snowmobile groomers in the winter, as well as for horses and ATV riders.
The state hopes to complete the work by the middle of May, she said.
Due to the spring thaw, state-designated trails are closed to ATV riders until May 25th. All signs have been posted, and riders are asked to respect landowners and wait for the trails to dry out.
“Police are ticketing people out there right now,” said Dalot. “It costs clubs a lot of money to repair damage.”
People who do get caught riding on state-designated trails when they are posted as being closed could get charged as much as three times the cost of the repairs to them per state law, she said.
Dalot said that the Western Maine ATV Club is looking for new members. People are encouraged to come to the club’s meetings on the first Wednesday of each month at the Jay Town Office at 7 p.m.
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