Map Of Reroute - River Trail

[seberly]

For those interested in the plans being made for re-routes at the river bottoms: the map below shows roughly what is planned. This area of the trail is just west of Indian Mounds School. Contact me if you would like more details.

We are currently working closely with the City of Bloomington to get final permission - it looks like work will happen in the spring.

We are gonna need your voluteer help (labor, etc) to make this happen….

Steve Eberly
seberly@att.net
952 201 6294


http://www.morcmtb.org/images/temp/BloomingtonReroutes11_03.jpg

[gopherhockey]

Link fixed...

[dennis porter]

Thanks, Steve. I just want to address that we realize some people may not like that the steep hills will be closed. They are fun but there are reasons and benefits for the re-routes...
1. These two steep sections in particular are used as evidence from a certian federal wildlife agency as "where mountain bikes are causing trail erosion".
2. They were never designed as a sustainable trail. They where just old access points.
3. They do erode, mainly due to heavy rain.
4. The reroute will actually add trail. More trail = More fun.
5. This is a pilot project from the City of Bloomingtons perspective. So, if they work we have potentail to do more re-routes/additions thus adding more trail.
6. The proposed re-route's also have the okay from the DNR and US Fish & Wildlife Service.
7. It's a start for better management for all trail users.

I hope riders understand and support these re-routes. As always if you have more input then you should get involved.

Dennis.

[noise_is_life]

My first reaction of course was that it will be a bummer to lose that big downhull (can't say I enjoy climbing back up it all that much), but it is obviously a really bad erosion point since there are big gullies running back and forth.

There is currently a fairly new trail that goes left from the bottom of the big hill (heading up the hill), will that be the basis for the reroute?

[KleinCrazy]

Pat,

the trail you are talking about has been there for about 3 years. it is actually on the map as a future trail addition.

We have looked at it in the past as a possible reroute, but it gets a little soft in a couple of places.

[SickBoy]

Is there ever a plan to add a (bike specific) trail that bypasses the boardwalked bird watching area? Looking at the map I am having a hard time telling. I know my way around that area like the back of my hand but show it to me on a map and i am completely confused....

[seberly]

From the comment below and as James mentioned: that "fairly new trail the goes left from the bottom of the big hill" is shown clearly below on the map. See the key for the dashed line which indicates future trail addition - when we get in there next year we may improve this trail as well - though one problem with this lower alignment is you still need to cross the drainage in the same wide place as now, which will require quite a bit of boardwalk. A negative for some people is that this route also minimizes the hill. The proposed trail addition crosses the drainage higher up where it is narrower.

There is no plan to bypass the boardwalked bird watching trail at this time. Best idea is to ride up past Indian Mounds School then along Shakopee Road and then turn down Old Cedar Ave.

As far as figuring out where these re-routes are - the key landmarks are the picnic table (c'mon we all know where that is, right?) and the power line. If you go to these areas you will see the flagging in the woods marking the proposed routes.

[Endo Commando]

I'm planning on riding the bottoms tomorrow afternoon. How's the trail? I haven't been there since summer. Is the raft still there, or has it been disabled for the winter. Any info would be great. Also, has anyone heard anything furhter on the old Cedar bridge. Are they just gonna let it rot till it collapses?

[seberly]

I haven't been down there since the snow - but I'm sure it is OK. Probably well packed from other riders. The raft is still there as well - keep an eye on this space for when we need everyones help to remove it - in the next 10 days or so.

Please be sure to stay out of any soft ground areas!

There were some meetings in late Sept/early Oct and there is a plan for the replacement or rebuild of the Long Meadow Bridge - but I am not familiar with the details. Contact your legislators and let them know you want it fixed.

Most of all - have fun.

[cheese4brains]

Originally posted by seberly
There were some meetings in late Sept/early Oct and there is a plan for the replacement or rebuild of the Long Meadow Bridge - but I am not familiar with the details. Contact your legislators and let them know you want it fixed.

For those, like I, who don't know the history of the bridge, here's a link to the City of Bloomington's website that gives a good overview:

http://www.ci.bloomington.mn.us/news/timely/oldbridg.htm

It doesn't make mention of the current funding status.