Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.mtblurkr
06-17-08, 12:23 PM
SGRT closed weekdays and open weekends
http://www.sgvtribune.com/ci_9607505
Popular bike trail to close during basin cleanup
By Airan Scruby, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 06/16/2008 09:28:27 PM PDT
Local bicyclists will find their trail options limited this summer by a three-month closure on a popular path.
The San Gabriel River Spreading Grounds, along with its bike path, will be closed on weekdays while the Los Angeles County Public Works Department scoops sediment from the basin.
"The sediment in those basins keeps those basins from working effectively," Assistant Division Engineer Chris Stone said. "It keeps the water from percolating down into the ground and replenishing the groundwater."
The closure of the 38-mile San Gabriel River Bike Trail, which runs from Seal Beach north to Azusa, will begin within the next week or two, Stone said.
Work will continue until mid to late August on weekdays. The trail will be open on weekends.
Construction crews will remove about 120,000 cubic yards of silt, built up after being carried by water from the San Gabriel River into the basin. The dirt will be taken to an Irwindale sediment placement site.
The project is expected to cost $2.2 million.
Local cyclists say they are disappointed by the closure.
Ernest Gonzalez, manager of G's Cyclery & Wheels, said many of his customers use the trail daily to bike to work.
"We ride it all the time," Gonzalez said.
Alex Fink of Whittier uses the trail to bike to work, for exercise and to save gas.
Fink, 50, pointed out that the bike trail was recently repaved and painted, but will get less use with the closures.
"They paved it and lined it for no reason," Fink said. "When they do repairs to streets, they don't shut the streets down."
He said he does not believe there is a safety issue in cleaning the basins while cyclists use the trail.
"What, they're going to scoop someone off the trail?" Fink asked.
Stone said he does not know how many people use the trail daily, but said closing on the weekdays is the best way to avoid inconveniencing riders.
"All indications are definitely the highest usages are on Saturdays and Sundays," Stone said.
Stone said the summer closure is unavoidable, because water flows through the work area during the winter.
"This is one of the things we need to do to help us conserve more rainfall during the winter months."
airan.scruby@sgvn.com
(562) 698-0955, Ext. 3029
http://www.sgvtribune.com/ci_9607505
Popular bike trail to close during basin cleanup
By Airan Scruby, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 06/16/2008 09:28:27 PM PDT
Local bicyclists will find their trail options limited this summer by a three-month closure on a popular path.
The San Gabriel River Spreading Grounds, along with its bike path, will be closed on weekdays while the Los Angeles County Public Works Department scoops sediment from the basin.
"The sediment in those basins keeps those basins from working effectively," Assistant Division Engineer Chris Stone said. "It keeps the water from percolating down into the ground and replenishing the groundwater."
The closure of the 38-mile San Gabriel River Bike Trail, which runs from Seal Beach north to Azusa, will begin within the next week or two, Stone said.
Work will continue until mid to late August on weekdays. The trail will be open on weekends.
Construction crews will remove about 120,000 cubic yards of silt, built up after being carried by water from the San Gabriel River into the basin. The dirt will be taken to an Irwindale sediment placement site.
The project is expected to cost $2.2 million.
Local cyclists say they are disappointed by the closure.
Ernest Gonzalez, manager of G's Cyclery & Wheels, said many of his customers use the trail daily to bike to work.
"We ride it all the time," Gonzalez said.
Alex Fink of Whittier uses the trail to bike to work, for exercise and to save gas.
Fink, 50, pointed out that the bike trail was recently repaved and painted, but will get less use with the closures.
"They paved it and lined it for no reason," Fink said. "When they do repairs to streets, they don't shut the streets down."
He said he does not believe there is a safety issue in cleaning the basins while cyclists use the trail.
"What, they're going to scoop someone off the trail?" Fink asked.
Stone said he does not know how many people use the trail daily, but said closing on the weekdays is the best way to avoid inconveniencing riders.
"All indications are definitely the highest usages are on Saturdays and Sundays," Stone said.
Stone said the summer closure is unavoidable, because water flows through the work area during the winter.
"This is one of the things we need to do to help us conserve more rainfall during the winter months."
airan.scruby@sgvn.com
(562) 698-0955, Ext. 3029