West Side Puddles

[tmac]

Anyone know what the west side of the trail looks like re: water/flooding?

I want to take out a couple of newbs tomorrow morning, but if flooding is an issue, we'll roll elsewhere.

Thanks.

[TML]

I'm curious as well. Had thoughts of heading down there tonight with my wife. Trail conditions as of the 14th were very wet.

[TomT]

I haven't been on the actual trail, but the bike path heading to hwy 101 is under water in at least 4 places.

I would think that there would be a large portion of the trail that is under water, I'm thinking just west of the railroad bridge.

[ricogigante]

tried to ride from bloomington ferry east last saturday and there were a lot of mud puddles. there were several trees down across the trail about 1/2 mile in and about 2 miles in where there is that dip with the pallet bridge across it was about 3 feet of water and branches. so, we turned around and decided to go across the river and checkout the paved trail that runs into the old bloomington ferry bridge road. last saturday the paved trail was completely dry, however this morning when I tried my first bicycle commute from bloomington to savage using this route there was water across alot of the paved trail and it got kinda scary where it turns from the trail to the road. there was about 3-4 inches of water moving really fast across the trail. :shocked: we forded thru but i wouldn't have wanted to be on a skinny tire bike that's for sure! so, i would say that the dirt trail is probably still in pretty rough shape.
does anyone know when the river is supposed to crest? i still have to get home tonight and i'm not looking forward to riding across that trail again.
is it legal to ride across the hwy 169 bridge?

[tmac]

Sounds like we'll change plans and head out somewhere else. Thanks for the replies.

[seberly]

Here is the latest info from the National Weather Service:

At Savage On The Minnesota River... The Stage Was 701.05 Feet At 10 AM Friday And There Was Moderate Flooding Occurring. Flood Stage Is 698.0 Feet. The River Is Forecast To Crest Near 701.1 Feet This Afternoon. This Would Result In Moderate Flooding. The River Is Forecast To Fall Below Flood Stage Thursday Afternoon. This Crest Compares To A Previous Crest Of 701.6 Feet On May 21 1999.

When we were doing maintenance on the trail Monday night the level was just about the same as now. The trail was not muddy but you can only ride about 2 miles before you encounter what is a pretty sizable (and deep) flooded area. I'd ride someone else until the water goes down more.

[ricogigante]

How about heading west, or east, from the Lyndale lot?

Anyone know what those conditions are?

[TML]

Thanks for the info all.

Like Ty said, I think changing plans would be wise.

[seberly]

West of Lyndale is just a road, East of Lyndale is probably impassable about .25 miles east - the small bridge is probably flooded.

But the bluff trail further to the east is not going to be flooded - you can access from MOund Springs park, parkers picnic ground or Indian mounds school - it will be much more difficult for new riders though....se

[TomT]

is it legal to ride across the hwy 169 bridge?
It is illegal to ride the hwy 169 bridge. If you consider the on and off ramps that you would have to cross, this is probably a good thing.