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Construction work is shown on the first segment of the PlyWood Trail on the north edge of Merrill, Iowa, along the Floyd River in this January 2022 file photo. Bwp Plywood
SIOUX CITY — The first phase of a 16-mile trail that will run through rural Plymouth and Woodbury counties is nearing completion.
Paving of the PlyWood Trail from Merrill to Le Mars is almost finished, according to a statement from the PlyWood Trail Foundation. This section of the trail includes two water crossings and one major bridge structure.
"While we were hoping the paving would be completed in early fall, we're extremely excited that it is close to completion," said Ryan Schaap, executive director of the PlyWood Trail Foundation. "There are a few driveways and hand-work locations that still need to be completed and we anticipate these will be finished in the next few weeks as weather allows."
Riders dip their back wheels in the Missouri River before starting on the 50th annual RAGBRAI in Sioux City, Iowa, Saturday, July 22, 2023. When they reach the other side of Iowa, they will dip their front wheels in the Mississippi River.
The statement said the first phase of the trail is not rideable, as "substantial completion will not be issued" until spring 2024, due to the need for backfill and seeding around the trail. The PlyWood Trail Foundation intends to hold a ribbon-cutting for the trail in the spring.
The statement said design work for the third phase of the project, Hinton to Sioux City, is also nearing completion. The City of Sioux City is coordinating with utility companies and working to obtain all necessary permits for the trail. April 2024 is being targeted as the letting date, with construction staged between 2024 and 2025.
Next year, the foundation plans to begin fundraising and applying for grants for the second phase of the project, Merrill to Hinton.
Named after the two counties it connects, the PlyWood Trail will run parallel with Highway 75. The trail, which is estimated to cost $18 million, will provide a transportation link for cyclists and pedestrians alike. It will be the largest trail on the western side of Iowa.
Former Christmas trees get fed through the chipper and recycled on the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center's trail.
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Construction work is shown on the first segment of the PlyWood Trail on the north edge of Merrill, Iowa, along the Floyd River in this January 2022 file photo.
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