For those wondering about the construction taking place near the walking trail just past Hinkle Lake, there’s no reason to be concerned. In fact, for those utilizing the trail system or who have some safety concerns near the area where the work is taking place, it’s actually a reason for relief.

 

According to Bridgeport Parks and Recreation Director Don Burton, work has begun on a new portion of the Hinkle and Deegan Lakes walking trail. The section in question is past Hinkle Lake and the work is being done near the gravel parking lot situated at the intersection of South Virginia Avenue and Route 58; across from the car wash.

 

Currently, the trail dead ends in that area and has led to a safety issue, said Burton. This project, which is more than $20,000 when city labor and resources are figured in, should take care of that.

 

“We’ve had walkers and joggers that utilize the trail in that area reach the end and get directly onto Route 58 to get to the private side of the lake and begin walking,” said Burton. “That’s a very busy road for people to walk on even if for a brief period of time.”

 

Because of the safety concerns, Burton said city staff was exploring an option in the area and literally stumbled upon it. Burton said two years ago they found the solution that’s going in place by walking the area where work is being done.

 

“We were in the area by the trail where there is an old trolley path and we came across an old concrete crossing. It’s the foundation and deck of an old trolley bridge that’s probably been in that wooded section for 75 or maybe even 100 years,” said Burton.

 

While the concrete deck isn’t able to be crossed, it does provide an area for the city to loop the trail over the old deck and connect it to the private side. Once finished, no one will have to use Route58 to get to either the private side of the lake or the existing trail by coming over from the private side.

 

“Eventually, we want to connect the trail system all the way around the lake and this is a logical place to start,” said Burton. “The good news with this is that when we started cleaning the area to make the path that will eventually be used it wasn’t too difficult because it was the old trolley trail without the tracks.”

 

To make the area accessible to both sides of the lake, the city will be installing a ramp from one of the trolley bridge deck to the grassy area situated on the other side of the Hinkle Lake Dam.  The city will pour a six to eight inch concrete pad on top of the existing concrete deck to tie in ramp. Once that is done, handrails will also be installed.

 

The section of trail on the public side of the lake from where it dead ends to where it will go to the new crossing will be have millings – or ground asphalt – put down. The opposite side of the new crossing, which heads to the private side of the lake, will remain grass for this year.

 

“Eventually, you’ll see work on the other side where the grass is, but that won’t be this year,” Burton said.

 

All of the labor and equipment for the project – from the trail clearing to the concrete work – is being done in house by Parks and Recreation staff and staff from the city’s Public Works Department. The only cost outside of that is for the creation of the ramp, which has to be fabricated.

 

“The ramp will be done by Quality Machine,” said Burton. “They will be similar in nature to the ramps that are located at the Bridgeport Recreation Complex.”

 

A total of $19,000 has been set aside for the ramp’s creation. Burton said the total includes a 10 percent contingency fee. He anticipates the ramp to be ready in three weeks and the project to be finished in up to six weeks.