A bicycle and pedestrian path planned to extend from one end of Healdsburg to the other is getting another gap filled in.
The City Council has approved a $1.3 million bid for construction of two-thirds of a mile of the Foss Creek Pathway, adding to existing portions of the off-street trail.
Work is anticipated to begin by early June on the latest portion of the paved path, extending it 3,100 feet north from West Grant Street to the Carson Warner Memorial Skateboard Park.
Eventually, pedestrians and cyclists are expected to be able to make their way along an approximate 4-mile route from Front Street on the south end of town to the northern edge of city limits near Alexander Valley Road.
So far, less than a mile of the trail has been constructed, beginning in 2006 in the downtown area.
While most cyclists still prefer the streets, “you see a lot of people walking and jogging on the trail,” said Healdsburg Utilities Director Terry Crowley. “It’s certainly a used trail. The more connectivity you have with it, the more popular it will become.”
The Foss Creek Pathway runs alongside the railroad tracks. The first part of the trail was built in a stretch close to the heart of the downtown, along Vine and Grove Streets, with ornamental benches and art pieces provided by the Voigt Family Sculpture Foundation.
Another segment of the trail was built near Healdsburg’s southern city limits, from First Street near the Russian River, to the train depot. But a gap exists from there to the five-way intersection before it resumes.
The newest segment heading north from West Grant Street is expected to be finished in November.
The City Council awarded the $1.3 million contract last week to Argonaut Constructors. Including a contingency fee, the total authorized expenditure is $1.6 million.
Part of the job includes building a 120-foot steel bridge over a spillway. It’s designed to carry emergency vehicles and an occasional service truck.
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