Pictures From June 4, 2011 National Trails Day In an annual event, the Gateway Trail Association observed National Trails day by placing an information booth at the Hadley Rest Stop. One again, we requested Trail users complete a questionnaire and to become members of the Gateway Trail Association. Free cold lemonade and granola bars from the GWTA were also enjoyed by a number of users. It was a very warm and beautiful day and the Trail was busy. We obtained a few new members, provided information on trail extension plans and the status of the Manning Avenue Bridge. Bill Berger and his wife Joan from the Gateway Bike Shop once again made adjustments on several bikes. As is always the case, we found Trail users to be a happy lot. Many expressed their fondness of the trail with exclamations that "they love the Trail" and "use it nearly everyday of the year". Below are several pictures of happy Trail users that passed by our station on Saturday including several who came started from as far away as North East Minneapolis. . Phantom & Courtney White, Griffin & Lorrie Beaulieu Early Morning Roller Bladers Runners Hydrate at Hadley Stop Staci Toriglan, Matt Settergeren watch Bill Berger adjust bike. Gerry Barnes, 1st new membership of Saturday.
ULLR Ski, Bike & Social Club Ready to Ride. GWTA Pres. John Oldenberg & runner Eric Senf. Happy cyclist on her way home. GWTA Pres, John Oldenberg serves lemonade to cyclists. More runners . Betsy enroute to Wm O'Brian St. Park to camp out. Bill and Joan Berger take a break.
Roller Bladers enjoying the Gateway Trail at Hadley Stop.
Christopher, Melissa, Elin & baby Drake. Linda and Peter Seed relax before a ride. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Gateway Trail Association Buys A Blower As we use the Gateway Trial, we seldom think of the excellent maintenance performed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to keep our trail clear and clean of leaves and debris. That is the way it should be and in an action which will help maintain the high level of trail maintenance we have all become accustomed to, the Board of Directors of the Gateway Trail Association voted last year to provide half the purchase price of a leaf and debris blower to the DNR if they came up with the other half. We are pleased to advise our members and Trail users that a new leaf and debris blower was in fact purchased late this summer and has been in use since that time keeping our trail clear of debris.
Pictured below are smiling DNR officials and GWTA Board members with our new leaf and debris blower at a small acceptance ceremony which was held in front of the DNR Building on Layfayette Road in St. Paul on November 15, 2010.
From the left to right;Vern Greene DNR-Gateway Trail,John Oldendorf-President GWTA, Forrest Boe-Assistant Director-DNR Parks & Trails,Al Porter-GWTA Board,Dan Collins-GWTA Board, Tim Voss-DNR Gateway Trail,Front,Barb Wahlman-GWTA Board._____________________________________________________________________________
Vandalism at Highway 96 Overpass
Vandalism at the Hwy 96 wayside prompts the Gateway Trail Association to offer a reward. For anyone having information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of the vandals, a $250 reward is offered. Those who have information have been asked to contact the Washington County Sheriff at 651-439-9381. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Manning Bridge Status
Decking begins to take shape on June 4, 2011. Concrete poured June 9, on schedule for mid-July opening.
Antique Bridge in Place May 20 on Manning Ave (CR15).
Photos Below of Bridge Raising Process Over The Last Two Years. Photos of bridge raising process.
Construction site on April 5, 2011 showing historic bridge in place to be mounted on piers. Est completion date May.
Manning Avenue Construction Site, August 24, 2010 Manning Avenue Construction Site viewed from the trail on the south side 7.13.2010.
Ramp on the North East Side of Manning Ave on May 31, 2010
Cyclists Using Manning Ave Bridge Detour on May 31, 2010 Progress at the Gateway Trail At Manning Avenue on November 20, 2009 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Update
A workable detour is in place (see above) but is rough and may require bikers and roller bladers to walk. We will periodically post pictures showing progress. As of July 24, 2011 we can advise that the historic bridge has been moved to a DOT garage in the Metro area in preparation for the installation by Fall 2010 but there have been some delays in the restoration process. Some additional delay will be the result of testing and verification conducted by the DOT. The DNR has advised that historic signs have been placed at the bridge site. The projected completion date is now mid-July 2011. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Construction will begin August 31, 2009 to install historic bridge number 5721 on the Gateway Trail as it passes over Manning Avenue, County Road 15 (CR 15). The project will proceed in two phases. First, in 2009, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will construct two earthen ramps on either side of the intersection. In the second phase of construction taking place in 2010, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT) will assemble the historic bridge.
Upon completion, the bridge will route the Gateway Trail over the high volume and high-speed traffic on Manning Avenue and should be a great safety improvement. In addition, the new bridge deck will be 18 feet wide, which will more easily accommodate horse riders and bikers at the same time. Upon completion, historic markers will be installed which will describe the unique character of this old bridge.
During the two-year construction period, a detour around the work site will be implemented as shown in the map below. The detour surface will not be paved.
