Dozens of supporters celebrated the groundbreaking of a new multiuse trail project ten years in the making. Several federal, state, and local representatives and staff participated in the official kickoff of the construction of the Merriam Junction Regional Trail project, which was held at the trail’s south end connection to the Louisville Swamp Trailhead near the Minnesota Valley Recreational Area and National Wildlife Refuge. The construction contract for the new trail was awarded to Ames Construction, Inc., and the two-year construction project will be underway this fall.
The new trail will connect Scott County to the City of Carver, Carver County’s Minnesota River Bluff Regional Trail, and the Minnesota River Valley State Trail. The new segment includes 2.2 miles of paved trail and four bridges providing an accessible pedestrian and bicycle link through the scenic Minnesota River Valley. The project would not have been possible with out support from various tribal, federal, state and local partners and demonstrates the commitment each brings to providing recreational opportunities to the public and the preservation of the natural environment.
The design and environmental engineering was led by SRF, including Mitch Rasmussen and Casey Black and their teams, with a special thank you to our partner firms, Bolton & Menk, Braun Intertec, Mead & Hunt, and Florin Cultural Resource Services. SRF will also support Scott County’s construction administration as the project moves into the next phase.