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Gateway-Brown's Creek
Trail Association
 Your Active Voice In The Trail's Development

 
 

 

News & Project Updates

News and Projects about the Gateway & Brown's Creek Trails.

  • 04/21/2020 8:00 AM | Ian Harding

    Here is the March 2020 update from the DNR about various construction and other projects along the trail:

    DNR Report and Updates:

    Rachel Henzen, DNR – As noted below: this report was written in early March 2020, some projects are likely to be delayed due to Minnesota COVID closures.

    35E/Maryland Ave Reroute – We are working through some wetland issues that will impact design. Construction is likely to take place sometime next year.

    Sewer Project – The City of St Paul has mostly completed the project behind Kmart and the trail has reopened. The project area still requires some touchup work that the City will complete this spring. In addition, since that section of trail hasn’t been opened for two years we’ll be working with the City to clean up the trail from Cayuga St to L’Orient St.

    Westminster Bridge – The project to replace the bridge and repair the trail should begin sometime this fall.

    Hadley Ave interchange – The trail and roads are open. We’ll be doing a final inspection this spring to evaluate how everything turned out and will likely add some signage.

    Brown’s Creek culvert in Stillwater – We have sent out a second bid this spring to have the failing culvert replaced. Depending on the weather the project should be completed by the end of June.

    Rush Line – We are continuing to meet with Ramsey County as plans move forward for the Rush Line. This will likely impact the trail at the intersection with the Bruce Vento. As we learn more we’ll pass information along.

    Aiple Park – We are working with the City of Stillwater as they plan for the future Aiple Park and determining how Brown’s Creek fits into the park. (This is the property just north of Stillwater between the trail and the river.)

    Candlelight Events – Thanks to everyone that came to the Gateway candlelight hike in January. It was definitely a record outing with somewhere between 800-900 attendees. If it continues to be that popular in the future, we will certainly need to recruit more volunteers.

    o 2020-2021 dates: Brown’s Creek – October 16, 2020, Gateway – January 22, 2021

    Brown’s Creek trail use counter – On Sunday March 8, we had 785 people go by the counter. By comparison, we didn’t even make it over 550/day in 2019 until 4/19!

    Extension Update - The Gateway Extension connection between William O’Brien State Park and the City of Scandia has gained some momentum this legislative session. Advocates, with technical assistance from DNR, are working hard to secure funding for continued design and construction of this approximately 3-mile segment of trail. DNR and local partners continue to pursue opportunities to purchase private land easements south of the park, including a few easements that are currently working their way through the real estate acquisition process.

    COVID-19 Update – Please be aware that all of the updates above assume normal operations without COVID-19 impacts. Unfortunately, the virus will have an impact on our operations especially as we try our best to implement social distancing for both our staff and public. Our highest priority at this point is the safety and health of both the public and DNR employees. If you have questions or concerns at any time feel free to email me (rachel.henzen@state.mn.us) as we’re not sure how much longer we’ll be working in our offices. I’d also ask for your patience as we enter this unknown and challenging time.


    Our Deepest Sympathies - Our thoughts go out to the families of John Oldendorf and Bill Berger during these difficult times. We appreciate all their work over the years for the Gateway and Brown’s Creek State Trails.




  • 04/20/2020 2:18 PM | Ian Harding

    Washington County is working on part 2 of their bike ped plan and seeking input . Please consider providing input especially in regards to county roads that help provide access to the Gateway and Brown's Creek Trails.  In the open comments section we are looking for support for making Highway 12 from Century/120 through to Mahtomedi/Willernie and beyond more bike ped friendly to help folks from White Bear area better access to the trails. The survey is https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MOVEbikepedsurvey

  • 03/15/2020 11:44 AM | Ian Harding

    A hard working crew of 9 GBCTA folks (Dennis L, Ian H, Jim M, Greg L, John C, Gil E, Ron M, Scott E, Dorian G ) were busy on Saturday March 14th and built 4 more ADA benches (2019-2020 total=8)  for the DNR to install on the Gateway trail. A big Thank you to all who worked on this additional amenity for the trail.




  • 03/13/2020 2:14 PM | Ian Harding

    Good news for spring bikers and walkers

    The DNR has agreed to a request from GBCTA and will be plowing the Gateway Browns Creek trail from Jamaca to Manning (Browns Creek) during the winter to spring transition. This is intended to be after the cross country ski season and so not affect that use.

    The main goal is to greatly reduce  the lingering packed ice-rutted snow in wooded sections that has made typically made the trail very unpleasant for biking and hiking in the first half of April. With the winter long existing plowing regimes  (St Paul - Jamaca, and Manning (BCreek) to Stilllwater already in place)  this will enable St Paul - Stillwater bike rides by the much safer Gateway - Browns Creek trail (vs road shoulders) possible. There may be some snow and ice remaining (or new snow falls) but it should not be in long and deep sections.  At present the Duluth Junction to Pine Point section of the Gateway will be left unplowed all winter.

    UPDATE 3-13-2020  see our Facebook page for the latest pictures ( a plowing was done ... lots of hard ice covered sections remain)


    So get out there on your bike in early April and enjoy a ride to Stillwater or ?

    Ian Harding

  • 03/02/2020 4:26 PM | Ian Harding

    The Association sadly announces the passing of our good friend Bill Berger.

    Bill and his wife,Joan, are owners of Gateway Cycle on Hwy 36 in Oakdale.  Bill, Joan and Gateway Cycle have been active supporters of the Association for many years.  Joan served as Secretary until recently, when she retired to support Bill, as they dealt with his progressing ALS.

    There is a wonderful picture and more at Gateway Cycle


    Bill will be missed.  He was a great friend to those who knew him, and to his customers.  He had a life-long passion for biking, and was an advocate for biking in our community.  We send our sympathy to Joan and their family.

    Dennis Lindeke
    President GBCTA
  • 01/30/2020 8:16 PM | Ian Harding

    A $4.6 milllion bonding request has been submitted to the MN State Legislature 2020 session by the City of Scandia for the extension of the state's most popular bike trail, the Gateway Trail from William O'Brien state park to Scandia. There is both exceptional local community interest for local biking, and strong support from regional cycling enthusiasts. The trail extension will enhance the economic viability of Scandia as well as linking to the Swedish Immigrant trail.

    We hope you can support this online petition (click on it for the link)

    www.ipetitions.com/petition/get-the-gateway-trail-to-scandia


    Complete details are here:

    Gateway Bill Talking Points.docx

    Gateway Capital budget request for 2020.pdf

    A Gateway to Scandia day at the Capitol event is scheduled for March 16th

    more details here.

    Please support this effort so we can get the trail extended to Scandia.




  • 01/30/2020 6:17 PM | Ian Harding

    About 800 people enjoyed the Jan 24 2020 Candlelight walk along the Gateway trail. Thank you to the DNR !

    Click here to see pictures

  • 11/24/2019 6:13 PM | Ian Harding

    A large crowd of folks (politicians, engineers, construction workers, employees and the general public) was on hand on Friday Nov 22nd  to formally celebrate the opening of the new Hadley / hwy 36 Interchange with the new Gateway Trail tunnel. 

    The supporting groups of Washington County, MN DOT, MN DNR, City of Oakdale, GBCTA, contractors, Fleet Farm, MN State Legislature, Federal Highway Administration and others were all represented.  US Congresswoman Betty McCollum, MN Senator Chuck Wiger, and MN Congressman Leon Lillie  were among the many speakers praising the project team for a job well done. The honors of cutting the ribbon went to   Washington County Commissioner Stan Karwoski. (see picture below)

    Another great safety improvement now in place on the Gateway Trail! Thank you all.




  • 11/07/2019 3:54 PM | Ian Harding

    A large crew from NE Metro Intermediate School District 916 Career and Tech program were at Rotary Park North St Paul this month to work on finishing up the new restrooms project (funded by the North St. Paul Maplewood Oakdale Rotary Club and a $500 donation from GBCTA).

    As of Oct 24th plumbing is in and work is being done for complete the exterior work and interior by the end of November.  Thank you to the 916 crew for your hard work and we wish you luck in your chosen career paths. 

    Update: Nov 8th metal roof is on and Tyvek wrap is on

    Picture from Nov 6


  • 11/05/2019 8:13 PM | Ian Harding

    MN DNR Update to GBCTA Oct 24 2019

    35E/Maryland Avenue Reroute – Project has now been funded. Design work will continue this fall; construction in 2020

    Sewer project behind K Mart in St Paul- The city of St Paul has resumed the sewer construction work and the trail should be reopened in late October/early November 2019.

    Westminster Bridge – design work continues; Construction work is expected in late spring/early summer 2020.

    Hadley Ave – roads have reopened. Trail reopening in 2020; detour remains in place

    Brown's Creek trail culvert (mile 0.25) repair will occur next spring

    Maintenance- striping on the Gateway delayed by cold weather to spring 2020. 146 fallen trees were removed from the trail in 2019 YTD

    Brown's Creek trail usage: average for last 15 months is 452 users per day, June – Aug 2019 daily average was 923

    Gateway Extension update:

    a) DNR is working on processing 2 easement acquisitions along the extension corridor in May Township (1) and Marine (1) .

    b) DNR staff is continuing work on options for Gateway Extension through and /or in the vicinity of William O'Brien State park

    c) All easements for the section of the trail from William O'Brien to Scandia have now been acquired.

    d) A bonding request for the Scandia to William O Brien section is being prepared for submission to the MN state legislature in early 2020 by the City of Scandia. Get ready to support this in Feb/March 2020

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