Part of the Clive Greenbelt Trail that has been closed for longer than expected may open in late spring or early summer.
The section of the trail that passes under the Interstate 35/80 bridge over Walnut Creek has been closed since October 2024 because of the Iowa Department of Transportation’s ongoing work on the bridge that’s part of the Hickman road interchange project. The city initially thought it would be back open at the end of last year.
Barriers close the trail off at the Campbell Recreation Area bridge and the trail crossing at Northwest 114th Street. Detour routes on the trail start at the Campbell Recreation Area, 12853 Woodlands Parkway in Clive, west of the interstate bridge, and east of the bridge at Northwest 100th Street in Clive. During the construction, the trail from the east gives pedestrians and bicyclists access to Clive City Hall, library and aquatic center.
City of Clive spokesperson Pete De Kock said Monday, Feb. 2 it is not safe for people to pass underneath the interstate bridge while heavy equipment is still on the outside lanes. But as work shifts to the inside lanes, De Kock said the hope is to open the trail once some of the initial demolition work on the bridge is done.
But the timing of all of that depends on the weather allowing Iowa DOT’s work to progress, he said.
And there is another issue. The Wastewater Reclamation Authority is building a large-diameter sewer parallel to the trail as Iowa DOT does its work on the bridge. De Kock said taking that project into account also means the city does not expect the trail to reopen until late spring or early summer.
Phillip Sitter covers the suburbs for the Des Moines Register. Phillip can be reached via email at PSitter@usatodayco.com. Find out more about him online in the Register’s staff directory.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: When will the Clive Greenbelt Trail, closed since 2024, reopen?
Reporting by Phillip Sitter, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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