Trail Repair, Construction and Closure Update-8/25/12

The Martin Olav Sabo bridge was closed over the last week in order to perform work to retrofit a diaphragm plate designed to withstand fatigue that caused cracking and cable failure last winter. The new plate connects the third longest set of cables on the bridge and will be monitored over the next few months to see how it performs.  It is expected that engineers will schedule the replacement of the other diaphragm plates later in the year.  The bridge is now open until the rest of the repairs are scheduled to begin.

The Sabo bridge opens just in time to be used as a detour for the Midtown Greenway Hiawatha Spur closure that starts Monday, August 27th.  The City of Minneapolis sent out the following statement to its Bicycle and Pedestrian Update subscribers yesterday:

Starting Monday, August 27, 2012, the Midtown Greenway Hiawatha Spur will be closed. The Hiawatha Spur is the short, at-grade trail segment just east of the intersection of Hiawatha Avenue and East 28^th Street. The closure is estimated to last five days and is needed to install fiber optic lines for a new Xcel Energy substation. Please follow the marked detour via the Sabo Bridge.

Keep informed of trail closures, detours and construction work by subscribing to the City of Minneapolis Bicycle and Pedestrian Update.  Visit http://www.minneapolismn.gov/bicycles/email-updates  and follow the instructions.

Image Credit: Dakota County

Work on the Pine Bend Bluffs segment of the Mississippi River Regional Trail continues into the next week. Work will include the removal of debris, stripping the topsoil within the construction limits and the shaping and grading of the trail from 111th Street to the north and from 117th Street to the south.

If you would like to get e-mail updates on this segment of the Mississippi River Regional Trail as they are posted send an e-mail to erin.borchert@co.dakota.mn.us with "Add me to the CP 97-98 (MRRT - Pine Bend) update list" in the subject line.

Repair work also continues on the Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail.  The following closure information is from the MN DNR:

Image Credit:  MN DNR

Mankato section

The trail is closed from the Lime Valley Parking Lot, east past the Hwy 22 Parking Lot (also closed) to the old #12 Bridge. Lime Valley Parking Lot is open for users going South into Mankato and the city trail system. The Hwy #22 Parking Lot is closed weekdays and for westbound use of the trail on weekends. There are county and city trails that can be used to get to downtown Mankato. Users must stay out of closed areas, during repairs to culverts and the replacement of the blacktop surface. Construction is expected to be completed by Mankato section by November 2, 2012.

Image Credit:  MN DNR

Faribault to Waterville section

Crews are currently rebuilding four bridges in this area and closing off sections around the bridge work. No trail users are allowed in any work area.

On August 6, 2012 old blacktop will be removed, re-grading and replacing the blacktop surface begins. Construction is expected to be completed by October 31, 2012. Remember, for safety concerns, stay out of closed areas.

To read more about this project from one of my earlier posts, click here.  For more information and updates on the construction improvements, visit the DNR's Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail page or call the DNR Information Center Monday through Friday between 8:00 am & 4:30 pm at 651-296-6157 or toll free 888-646-6367.