Chisholm Toll Road Construction Will Not Affect Trinity Trails

... at least according to the NTTA.

In their latest e-mail update about construction progress on the Chisholm Trail Parkway, the NTTA has stated that the construction for the toll road will not affect the Trinity Trails.

Since the e-mail update (dated Feb 6, 2012) is not archived online yet, here is the complete text of their statement relating to the Trinity Trails:

Construction will not affect Trinity Trails

As construction progresses on the Chisholm Trail Parkway, plans call for work near the Trinity Trails. During construction, the trails will be open during normal operational hours (5 a.m. - 10 p.m.). However, at night, when the trails are closed, there will be times when they are blocked so that crews can continue construction for the proposed CTP bridges.

The Trinity Trails are a popular destination for hikers, bikers and joggers. Consisting of more than 40 miles, the trails connect to 21 parks and several Fort Worth landmarks, including the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens, Fort Worth Zoo, downtown Fort Worth and the historic Stockyards

Safety precautions will be taken along the trails that are impacted by construction including lighting, safety fence and temporary detours as needed.

Final scheduling of work near the trail will be determined in the coming weeks.

New Trinity Trails Signage

The Tarrant Regional Water District has erected some new signs along the Trinity Trails.

This sign is located at the far south-west end of the Trinity Trails in Benbrook:

According to a Trinity River Vision Authority blog post, this is Phase 1 of new sign implementation. Phase 2 will "focus on directional signage for trail users. This will include mile markers, street identification signs and trail maps."

Gateway Park Mountain Bike Trail Extension Workfest Nov. 5

The Fort Worth Mountain Bikers' Association (FWMBA) will be having a Workfest to begin construction on a new 5.5 mile extension to the Gateway Park Mountain Bike Trail.  The Workfest will be Saturday, November 5, 2011 starting at 9 AM.

Please note, this is not an extension of the paved Trinity Trails, this is a off-road, dirt trail for mountain bikes.  There is an existing 4 mile mountian bike trail in Gateway Park (also created by the FWMBA) and this new 5.5 mile trail [pdf map] will be on the other (East) side of the Trinity River, it will "traverse many of the hills adjacent to Interstate 30 and provide the mountain bike community of north Texas some amazing views of downtown Fort Worth".

The FWMBA "is calling out to the mountain bike community to join us to help make this new vision of Gateway Park a reality."

Visit the FWMBA website for more details.

911 Signs To Be Installed Along Trinity Trails

NBC 5 is reporting that the TRWD is going to start adding "911 Location" signs to the Trinity Trails.  The signs will provide a location ID to give 911 operators.  The location ID will give the 911 operator your location and provide first responders with the best route to your location.

See the full story on NBC 5

Burger Stand on the Trinity Trails!?!?

Just saw this tweet from Bud Kennedy:

The new Trinity Trails trailhead at Rogers Road will include a burger stand or cafe--no word yet on operator

UPDATE: It is called The Woodshed and it is a Tim Love restaurant (Lonsome Dove, Love Shack, etc.) Read more about it on Fortworthology.

New Trinity Trail Bike, Pedestrian Bridge near Lancaster

The Phyllis Tilley Memorial Bridge is under construction south of the Lancaster Avenue bridge. The pedestrian and bike bridge will offer a new connection between the Trinity Trails and downtown Fort Worth.

The bridge will span 384 feet and is, according to the bridge's architects, the first stress ribbon-style bridge of its kind in the US. It is a $3 million project and should be completed by the end of November.

More architectural renderings are available on the project's architects' site: Freese and Nichols. Streams and Valleys, which contributed $250,000, to the cost of the bridge also has more information on their site.

NBC Channel 5 had a report on the bridge yesterday that you can view below. The text of their story is available on their site.

Trinity Dredging Project Will Not Close Trinity Trails

As reported in the Star-Telegram, the upcoming 3 to 4 year dredging of the Trinity River will not force the closure of the Trinity Trails:

Joggers and bikers will still have access to the Trinity Trails in that section of the Clear Fork, but signs will be posted warning them that equipment may be crossing the trails.

The $1.5 million project will begin near Southwest Boulevard and move downstream towards Trinity Park.