Columbia Parks and Rec improves trails on MKT

The bridges should be open next month.

By Samantha Sunne

Published May 4, 2010

Two bridges on the MKT Trail are being replaced, and trail users should not try to cross either bridge, the Columbia Parks and Recreation Department said.

Construction on Bridge 12, which crosses Hinkson Creek about one mile east of Scott Boulevard, is about halfway done, said engineering aide Richard Perkin.

He estimated construction should be completed in three to four weeks.

"During the day when the contractor's working, we really don't give any access to trail users at that point because there's a conflict with heavy equipment and workers on the trail," Parks Planning and Development Superintendent Steve Saitta said.

Although Bridge 13, which is located about a quarter mile east of Scott Boulevard, is finished with construction, Perkin said residents should not try to cross there either.

"There's a bypass at Bridge 13 that pedestrians can use, but with extreme caution," Perkin said. "With the recent flooding, some of the surface material has been removed so that the footing is uneven."

Columbia resident Jerri Deming said she had tried to continue on the trail without the bridge, but could not wade through the water because it was flowing too fast.

"I don't see how you can cross the water without a bridge," Deming said.

Saitta said there are alternate routes posted at several locations along the trail.

"The routes themselves are a little bit out of the way," he said. "So we're not sure how many people are actually using those."

Perkin said trail users could avoid Bridge 12 by taking the Country Woods exit off the trail about half a mile before the bridge going westbound. They can then rejoin the trail at the access point on Scott Boulevard.

"The county side of the trail has been badly damaged due to flooding as well, so caution should be exercised at that portion of the trail," Perkin said.

Freshman Elizabeth Collins, who bikes on the trail, said she stopped and turned around rather than try to find a detour.

"I didn't know if it usually went further than that," she said. "I saw that it ended and just turned around and came back."

Saitta said trail users could sometimes access those parts of the trail during the evenings and weekends when there are no construction workers.

"We realize (it is) very difficult to prevent some trail users from trying to use the trail, so we're trying to keep that as passable as we possibly can," he said. "But again, that's only during off-work hours."

Columbia resident R.D. Ross said he checks on the construction's progress every day.

"It's a deep ravine, by our standards here anyway," he said. "(The bridges) appeared to be in rather sad condition for a number of years."

Both bridges are around 100 years old, and their support structures were failing, Perkin said.

"The decision was made to replace the whole structures, versus just the supports, due to longevity," he said.

Perkin said the construction workers still need to collect their tools, remove temporary crossings and put guardrails up on Bridge 12 before trail users can cross it again.