Bayfield County rejects proposal to expand ATV use on highways

ATVS will not be permitted on all county highways in Bayfield County.

The Bayfield County board rejected Tuesday a proposal to expand ATV and UTV use, which now are permitted only on 40% to 50% of county highways. Highway Commissioner Bob Anderson suggested opening all county highways to increasingly popular four-wheelers because the county has been having a tough time maintaining signs indicating which roads are open to ATV traffic.

Anderson looked into how other counties are handling the issue and found that as of 2022, 75% of highways in Ashland County are open for ATVs and at least 10 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties permit them on all county highways, while many others are not far off.

A large crowd attended the meeting Tuesday following months of debate over the proposal. Many residents have raised concerns about speed, noise and safety while others voiced their support for the proposal.