3M Urban Ecology Restoration Grant structure backfill

This week, until today, saw the grading contractor back on site. The remainder of the 'riverbed' channel and splash pool are in the first stages of being formed. The abandoned pump house structure is being back-filled with the excavated materials from the riverbed. This will make a manageable slope running from the riverbed up to what will be the green-roofed structure.

The non load-bearing masonry walls (seen here in tan) will be removed and the structure will have four open sides. It will house some of the interpretive sign system that is in the process of being designed. From the structure you will be able to view the M-K-T trail and look across the wetlands cells, due south. This will be an exciting addition to an already valuable project.

MKT bridge replacement #s 12 & 13

The trail is officially open the entire length from downtown Columbia to the end of the city section @ Scott Blvd. The first people to cross, when the barricades were "officially" removed, were a runner, a pair of cyclists and a couple out for a walk, they probably did not realized it, but they christened bridge #12 and the newly resurfaced trail section.

Parks and Recreation staff still have to do the following at the site, but trail users will be allowed to pass work sites:

- Seeding of native wildflowers, to be performed at all disturbed areas around bridge #12
- Finishing of improved Katy Lakes connection / turn around and switchback.
- Planning for historic bridge marker - using salvaged bridge sections
- Planning and constructing new trail head signs

Houf Construction is installing steel plates that cover the connection from the concrete to steel truss section of bridges, at bridge #12, and a little site remediation work.

The parking lot at Scott Blvd has now been re-opened.

Thank you for your patience through this project. Even though it is July the contractor has only had 78 work days applied to this project, the other 68 days have been non-worked days, due to site, or weather conditions.

MKT bridge replacement #s 12 & 13

Parks and rec staff and grading contractor are on site, resurfacing
trail today. Even though blue gates have been removed, there is still
construction activity occurring, as signed. Users may enter job site
after 4:30 this afternoon. Trail work is expected to be finished
tomorrow.

Trail users entering from Katy Lake estates will need to take care at the bottom of the hill as base rock has been placed for preliminary trail access improvements to correct drainage issues to the west.

MKT Bridge #12 & #13 7-27-2010

Today: Houf Construction is working their way out of the site and Roy Richardson & Son, Parks Recreation grading contractor is on the trail re-surfacing the trail from bridge #12 to the Scott Blvd trail access.
Tomorrow: Houf Construction will be removing their equipment and performing any last minute clean up tasks. Roy Richardson & Son, Parks Recreation grading contractor will be on the trail re-surfacing the trail from bridge #12 to the Scott Blvd trail access.

The trail section will remain closed until this weekend when the Parks & Recreation Department intends to have all the temporary gates and barriers removed and have the trail re-opened for all trail users.

Please do not enter the job site over the next few days. The site is a working job site and equipment operators are not always able to see trail users.