Mindoro Cut
Mindoro Cut is a carved passage through dolomite rock along State Highway 108 in Wisconsin, where the road cuts approximately 75 feet deep and extends about 86 feet in length with a width of 25 feet. The passage creates a distinctive sunken roadway that guides travelers through what was once an impassable steep ridge.
The cut was carved between 1907 and 1908 primarily by hand labor using simple tools and dynamite to pierce through an otherwise impassable ridge. This effort helped establish better connections between Mindoro and nearby towns like West Salem, transforming local transportation and commerce during the early automotive age.
The cut represents a turning point when local communities invested in better transportation to serve farmers and traders. It stands today as a testament to how people came together to reshape the land for practical progress.
The site is accessible by car along State Highway 108, and visitors can pull over to view the cut up close from the roadside or walk around the surrounding area to appreciate its scale. The site is open year-round with no restrictions, though visiting during clear weather provides better visibility of the carved rock walls.
Mindoro Cut ranks as the second-deepest hand-dug rock cut in the western United States, a distinction that reflects the remarkable engineering effort required. Workers balanced wheelbarrows on narrow planks suspended over the slope while removing rock and earth, a perilous task that tested their skill and courage during the excavation.
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