Sioux City History and Culture by Bicycle Part 174; Lewis and Clark Trail

Within Sioux City from the Floyd and Chris Larsen Rd intersection to Riverside Park is a Multi-Use Trail called the Lewis and Clark Trail. Some sections of this trail are more impressive then others. The section from the intersection to the children's park just before the Anderson Dance Pavilion is not all that impressive because it is in front of the casino. From the kids park to the Hamilton Blvd Chris Larsen Road intersection is really nice as it goes by the park, the dance pavilion, there is a turn off to head across the Veterans Bridge and into South Sioux City. It also goes by the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and Sgt. Floyd Museum. From the Hamilton Blvd and Chris Larsen Road intersection the trail is even more impressive as it travels along the river through the trees and shade with areas from where the bluffs of the beautiful Loess Hills can be seen where they parallel I-29. There are also great views of the river form this section of the trail as well.

Starting this year the Iowa Department of Transportation started the I-29 Improvement Project. Currently Segment 3 is being done, which is the Riverside Blvd/I-29 Interchange and widening of the southbound lane from Hamilton Blvd to Riverside Blvd. Right now only the Riverside/I-29 Interchange is being worked on and will be completed later this year. The trail is not affected by this in terms of being closed or interrupted. However starting in 2010 the Lewis and Clark Trail will be close from Hamilton to Riverside Blvd because of the lane widening. The trail will be removed and put back as part of the project. There may be a negative side effect to this though. Right now a good portion of this segment of trail goes through some beautiful trees that shade the trail and buffer the trail from the heat and irritating noise of the interstate traffic. These sections are some distance from the interstate, with area that are close that do not have a buffer of trees. The trail also curves and winds its way between the river and interstate. This makes riding the trail interesting.

I have found out that when the trail is rebuilt it will be the interstate, shoulder, retaining wall, trail, retaining wall then river. This means these green buffers could be removed. A concern I have is whether or not these green areas will remain intact and only the area where the trail is closest to the interstate will be affected and built on a retaining wall, or if the whole thing will be affected by this. the trail could also lost the attractiveness with the way it curves and winds its way along the river. There is nothing more boring then a trail that is straight from point to point with not change in scenery. It will also be an irritating factor to have to deal with the heat and nosie from the interstate traffic, especially when there will be more of it to deal with and with this entire section or mor of this section of trail closer to the interstate.

This past weekend I did a ride on the trail to shoot photo's of what it currently looks like. You will see what the trail looks like now along with the views tot he left and right of the trail. These photo's were taken while I was riding my bike. Enjoy.;