Miami Valley RailTrails Newsletter December 2005

Miami Valley RailTrails Newsletter
December 2005

It’s 21 November 2005 the Winter Solstice. There is about 3” of snow on the ground and Christmas is coming! To all my faithful readers I wish you and yours a safe and joyful holiday season. I have new information for you about the trails in the Miami Valley. Please read on.

Trail Construction and Improvements.

Website Changes and Improvements

Did You Know Department

Announcements of Upcoming Cycling Events

Trail Construction and Improvements

Great Miami River Recreation Trail (Northern Segment) Closed. This section of trail in Taylorsville MetroPark goes under I-70 in Huber Heights. Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) closed the trail effective 28 November 2005 in order to replace the two I-70 bridges over the Great Miami River. The trail will be officially closed until 24 May 2007. As you know the contractors will not be working on the bridges every day for the period so if you want to ride the trail under the I-70 bridges you can do that. But remember, the trail is closed so if you get hurt you’re on your own. ODOT and the construction company have no liability to you if you ignore the signs and are injured. Here is the Official Press Release on the trail closing:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 1, 2005
Contact: Bernadette L. Harawa
(937) 275-7275

ODOT CONSTRUCTION CLOSES RECREATION TRAIL

Dayton, OH – The Ohio Department of Transportation has closed the north Great Miami River Recreation Trail under Interstate 70 as of November 28.
This closure is caused by the bridge replacement project on I-70 at the Great Miami River in Vandalia. Over the next two years, both the eastbound and westbound bridges will be replaced with structures that will accommodate three lanes in both directions.

The recreation trail will remain open to the construction limits of the project from both the north and south. The trail closure is expected to remain for 540 days. Five Rivers MetroParks encourages trail users to continue to utilize the trail through this period while avoiding the construction barricades.

Ellis Park Spur Under Construction - I am informed that Greene County Parks District has started the 1400’ trail spur from the Great Miami River Recreation Trail North of Yellow Springs to Ellis Park which is West of the trail. The trail spurs starts about ½ miles North of Yellow Springs – Fairfield Road . The cost of the Ellis Park Spur is $126K. Greene County Parks got a Recreational Trails Program grant of $50K. The remaining funds are coming from Yellow Springs ($20K) and the balance from Greene County Parks. The trail spur is expected to be completed by 1 May 2006 .
Progress Made on New Trail from Eastwood MetroPark to Huffman MetroPark and Enon - Five Rivers MetroParks has received a “Notice of Intent To Sell” letter from Norfolk Southern railroad. This is an important letter because it signals the start of serious negotiations for Five Rivers MetroParks to purchase a right-of-way and build the trail that has been in planning called tentatively the “Three Counties Trail” for several years. Five Rivers MetroParks will now work with the other parties that include Greene County Recreation and Parks and National Trails Parks and Recreation District (Clark County). They will develop a proposal to send back to Norfolk Southern. Hopefully the purchase of a suitable right-of-way will not take too long so that the long awaited trail (at least by this author) can be built to connect Eastwood MetroPark to Huffman MetroPark. This trail is also an important connection to Clark County, Fairborn via the T-Connector to the Wright Brothers Bikeway), and Springfield, Ohio (via the Buck Creek Trail).
Lebanon Countryside Trail is Finally Completed: We reported in September that the trail was behind schedule. The trail was dedicated on 1 October, 2005 but about ½ mile of trail and a bridge across Tuttle Creek South of the YMCA were not complete at that time. It was reported to me by Mr. Frank Allen of Lebanon that as of about three weeks ago, the trail was finally complete. The bridge across the Little Miami Scenic Trail will also be used as the start of the Miami-2-Miami Trail.

Website Changes and Improvements

Little Miami Scenic Trail - As some of you know the Little Miami Scenic Trail between Morrow and Loveland was repaired this Summer by the Little Miami Scenic Park that manages the trail in the area. For some years, tree roots had pushed through the asphalt surface and made parts of the trail unsuitable for in line skaters. It was reported to me recently by Ms. Renee Yablon of Cycle Sport Bicycle Shop near Loveland that the construction had finally come to an end. That means that in 2006 this section of trail will be "smooth and fast." I have rewritten several pages that have had on them for some years "trail has bulged tree roots in some places"

Did You Know Department

Miami Valley RailTrails Screensaver - It’s just became Winter today and there is snow on the ground. Most of us have hung up our bicycles for the season. When I walked away from my computer while writing this December newsletter to you my “Miami Valley RailTrails” screensaver started. All of the photos are of the trails in the Miami Valley .Most of them were taken in Summer so that they remind me of the rides I took to get them for you. If you have not downloaded my free gift to all of you please do so by going to: http://www.miamivalleytrails.org/screensaver.htm
Major Changes to Website are on What’s New Page - That is correct. I update the website and then I usually remember to update the What’s New? Page. If you want to know what’s going on you can look at these newsletters or for a chronological list of website changes go to What’s New? It’s on the “Other Links” drop down menu.

Announcements of Upcoming Cycling Events
(Also See Events Page )

None this month.

Regards to all,

Thomas J. Recktenwalt
Webmaster
Miami Valley RailTrails
http://www.miamivalleytrails.org

If you find these newsletters and my Miami Valley RailTrails website of use to you, please pass the information on to your friends and neighbors who might enjoy our wonderful system of multi-use trails in Southwest Ohio. They are wonderful for walking, running, in-line skating, birding, fishing and cycling and on some trails horseback riding. You see more wildlife from one of our trails than most anyplace else. All of my newsletters are posted to my website at the same time I send you this text version. The URL for your use is: http://www.miamivalleytrails.org/join_our_mailing_list.htm

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