Admin

  • Mon November 18 2013
  • Posted Nov 18, 2013
Excitement is growing over the project to convert the former Iowa River Railroad right-of-way to a multi-use recreational trail that will eventually stretch from Marshalltown to Steamboat Rock.

Over the past several weeks, a number of key hurdles have been crossed including securing state grant funding to purchase the right-of-way for eventual trail development; the formation of a trails commission in Hardin County and a certified nonprofit in Marshall County to oversee development, operation and eventual maintenance of the trail; and the support of local government entities in both counties for the project to move ahead.

Railroad salvage operations began this past summer, and in many spots the rails and ties have already been removed. Consequently, there has been a number of reports of individuals already trying to use the future trail ranging from walkers and joggers to reports of ATV's utilizing the corridor.

While it's great to see the public eager for this project to move ahead and start using the future trail corridor for recreational activities, it is important to stress that the right-of-way is currently CLOSED to the public and that individuals must refrain from accessing the corridor until further notice.

Of primary concern is public safety. Railroad salvage operations will not be complete until the summer of 2014, and as a result there will continue to be heavy construction equipment operating along the right-of-way until those activities are finished. In addition, there is much work to be done to stabilize and properly secure bridges and other structures to make them safe for eventual public use; grading and surface stabilization of the former rail bed that will be required; signage that must be installed and a host of other activities that must be completed before the trail can be safely opened to public use.

Individuals who fail to heed warnings to avoid accessing the right-of-way are at risk of jeopardizing their own personal safety as well as the safety of others.

In the near future, representatives from both Hardin and Marshall Counties will work together to craft a plan for development, operation and maintenance of the eventual trail. Part of this work will include developing rules and regulations that will eventually dictate the types of recreational activities permitted on the trail to ensure the public can best benefit from the future trail corridor while ensuring the concerns of adjacent private property owners are properly addressed. Until that time, the public should refrain from use of the corridor to avoid creating conflicts which could hinder trail development efforts and general support of the project.

Updates on the Iowa River Rail Trail project, including information on how the public can best assist with efforts to develop this future new recreational asset in Hardin and Marshall Counties, can be found by visiting www.hardincountytrails.com.


14,670 views

SHARE

Portals

Event

Related Sponsors

No comments have posted.

Leave a Comment

You must be signed in to leave a comment.