“Very high traffic corridor,” said Andy Soltvedt, who is with Anoka County parks.
But for now this section of the trail is empty and closed, as the boardwalk gets an overdue makeover.
Said Soltvedt: “There was a bunch of sub-surface rotting on the board.”
This highly used trail in the North Metro has been closed for construction since last year. But if things go according to plan it could re-open in mid-September.
“Long span”
Because of the construction, people are forced to find detours around this popular boardwalk.
That isn’t always easy because this wood ribbon is a key link in the Rice Creek trail system.
“It’s a long span of a bridge,” Soltvedt said…”It’s one of our very heavily used sections with the elementary school on the east side and Chominix golf course on the west side. There’s not a really great, easy way to go around. It cuts through a high traffic, visible area. We’re excited to get it back open as soon as possible.”
Boardwalk delays
The boardwalk was supposed to be finished by now, but record snow totals delayed the project. The closure is frustrating for trail users but in the end this will be a case of delayed gratification.
“Nobody likes to see something get closed,” Soltvedt said. “Especially on the park system. Our goal is to have facilities available, so people can get out, enjoy and recreate. The sooner we can get it open the better.”
The new boardwalk will be a definite upgrade over the old one.
“It’ll look very similar to what it is but with improved materials, improved structure,” Soltvedt said. “It will have the same kind of look and feel with that natural boardwalk feel to it. But it will be preserved so it will last much longer into the future.”
It’s easy to see why trail-users miss the boardwalk. The location is in a tranquil setting with some fabulous scenery as the boardwalk stretches 1,100 feet across a wetland area.
“It connects between the chain of lakes and the various lakes here in the Rice Creek corridor,” Soltvedt said. “This is a key corridor that accesses across that wetland area, protects a sensitive environment beneath us by keeping the boardwalk raised.”
One reason why the bridge is being replaced, is because there’s not a lot of shade and the deck is exposed to the extreme Minnesota elements.
