Community Corner

Development of Brown's Creek Trail to Start in September

The first step in developing Minnesota's newest state trail will begin in early this month as contractors remove railroad tracks from the Brown's Creek Trail between Stillwater and the city of Grant.

The first step in developing Minnesota’s newest state trail will begin in early this month as contractors remove railroad tracks from the Brown’s Creek Trail between Stillwater and the city of Grant.

The railroad rails and ties from the former Minnesota Zephyr dinner train will be recycled.

In a different approach to the competitive bid process, the contractor will perform the track removal work and pay the DNR for the value of the salvage. These proceeds will help offset future trail development costs.

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Motorists may experience a few short-term road closures or detours as the work proceeds, according to a news release from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Track removal is anticipated to be completed by Nov. 30.

The public is asked to remain off the trail corridor during the track removal and salvage process and to exercise extreme caution at all intersections and crossings.   

Moving Forward

The next phase of trail development, slated for 2013, will entail paving the portion of the trail from downtown Stillwater to the Brown’s Creek Park and Nature Preserve at Neal Avenue.

It will also include construction of a new bridge over Brown’s Creek at the Oak Glen Golf Course and rehabilitation of an existing bridge over state Highway 95. Further development of the trail, including a proposed bridge over Manning Avenue, will depend on funding availability.

The public is asked to remain off the trail corridor during all phases of trail development to ensure safety. The DNR will not be maintaining the trail for use during this construction period.

When completed, the DNR estimates that the trail will be used by as many as 75,000 active outdoor recreationists each year.


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