Agenda - Council - 09/12/1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

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REPORT OF STATUS OF LAKE ITASCA TRAIL By: Mark Boos, Parks/Utilities Supervisor Trail delineation began early in 1993 with location of the trail's property corners. The center line !of the treadway to be paved was then located within the 75' corridor predominantly on the east side. The purpose is to allow for clearing of a westerly parallel route for usd by horses, hikers, cross-country skiers and possibly mountain bikes. (There will not be motorized vehicles allowed on the lake Itasca Trail.) Potential development of the alternaterroute will occur sometime after the first phase is completed. The first step in the alternati~,e route would be delineation of the precise route with subsequent clearing of brush and trees. The brush removal/clearing may be amenable to volunteer endeavors. Clearing the heavily wooded route also began early in 1993, with an intermission in the spring and early summer for reasons of oak wilt prevention and other City activities. The preponderance of land clearing was completed in the fall 1993 and early winter 1994. This spring ~1994) the final limbs were pruned and the alignment for a 900' section on the far northwest end was determined. This segment was brushed out with the assistance of our summer staff. The paved portion of the trail will terminate (for now) by circling a small standlof white oaks and hazelnuts near the Trott Brook wetland. The loop provides trail users a;more palatable end to their walking or wheeled excursion than an abrupt end. Future extension of this terminus to the west will occur from the circle leaving the "island" within the fa'ail. Extension in the near future may be simply a mowed or wood-chipped trail. The ~ventual connection would be Elk River, Jarvis Street, or a route to encompass the large wetland separating Hunter's Ridge and North Fork. Paving will occur during the month of September. The total distance will be 1.4 miles beginning ~or ending) at the aforementioned loop in the trail, south past 162nd Lane N.W. through thc woods, beyond 160th Lane N.W. through that woods, and to the opening bordered by wetland. From that point, we will be using ,a recycled asphalt shingle product in lieu of 2341 wear course bituminous for the trail's surface. This 850' is a donation to the City; the value being about $5,000. An additional value of this 850' segment may be in the use of recycled products for the nature trail's construction as it would seem to be an environmentally sound approach to "development" in a wooded environment. In addition to the trail Surface, this same 850' will utilize con-bit (recycled asphalt and concrete from Bury & Carlson) for base material instead of ~lass V gravel. Traditional paving will resume south of the boardwalk for approximately 400 feet to the future trail,.head at 15700 Okapi Street N.W. The trail paving will end at this point until the park plan i~s developed for the Lake Itasca Park. Once this is completed, the park trail's surface will continue and provide connection to the larger trail, the neighborhoods, and 153 Avenue N,W. All of the paved surface will be 8.5 feet wide at a minimum of 2" thickness. Exclusive of the City'slinternal expense for preparation, the paving of all trail segments will cost $43,832, Or less than $5.95 per lineal foot. Each segment was proposed as a separate project due to unique characteristics of each. Omann Brothers Construction provided the lowest quoted price on each segment as well 'as the entire project. Given the difficulty of this project, because of the trees and wet areas, this is a good price, plus, it includes the donated section and 1,300' of geotextile gro_und stabilization matting. The next best quote received fbr all segments was for $6.25 per foot at a narrower paving width and excluding