There’s so much going on with the Bear Creek Greenway these days, here’s a short summary of some of the most exciting topics:
Pouring concrete on the fissure section near Ashland
Work is progressing on the reconstruction project- the South Valley View Road to Suncrest Road section is complete and reopened. Feedback is very positive; people are enjoying the new, wider, smooth pavement! The concrete section between the Ashland Dog Park and Eagle Mill Road is poured and curing. Once it has cured, the contractor will place the shoulder rock and it will reopen. In the meantime, work on the Barnett (Bear Creek Park) to McAndrews Road is going full-force. Once finished there, they’ll continue north from McAndrews Road to the Biddle Road access ramps (including the bumpy bridge parallel to I-5). Completion is expected in mid to late August.
Just how many trips are taken on the Bear Creek Greenway? Data from an automated trail counter near Ashland shows over 450 trips per day on the trail in May, and data from a volunteer trail count in early June at seven sites shows an average of over 420 trips per day, or over 150,000 trips per year on the Bear Creek Greenway! Of note- traffic on the trail may be lighter than usual due to the construction work. We’re looking forward to monitoring the counter data and holding volunteer counts again next spring.
Last but certainly not least, Jackson County is kicking off the Bear Creek Greenway Volunteer Program! We’re recruiting people who are interested in serving as Greenway Hosts (kind of like a camp host, but on the trail) or as general volunteers to help with work days and/or special events. We’re also looking for groups who are interested in adopting a section of trail.
For more information on any of the above, check out www.jacksoncounty.org/bearcreekgreenway.
