Raccoon River Valley Trail Crossings to be Paved from Waukee to Linden

Private money and grants will be used to pay the cost of paving the Raccoon River Valley Trail’s gravel crossings from Waukee to Linden, the Dallas County Board of Supervisors decided this week.

Dallas County Conservation Director Mike Wallace said there are 13 crossings that could be paved at a cost of about $2,400 per crossing, the Dallas County News reported. Most of the cost has been raised through private donations.

Jim Miller, a member of the Dallas County Conservation Board, has helped find private money to pay for the work and said the idea has been well-received.

“One reason this has been so easy to raise money for is that people recognize it’s an economic development issue,” he said in the newspaper story. “The gravel crossings are dangerous. … It’s not as simple as zipping across; you have to concentrate on how you get across the loose gravel without wiping out, and it’s very frequent that people wipe out.”

Chairman Mark Hanson said he supported paving the crossings, but worries that paved areas could produce more accidents as riders run stop signs, the newspaper said.

Richard Voelker with Synder & Associates told the board options to increase visual warnings could include signs with the name of the roadway or painting traffic symbols on the trail itself.

Another option for more congested areas, such as 156th Street in Clive, could be a “No Right on Red” blinking sign to warn vehicles after the “Walk” button is pushed.

Project supporters have raised about $24,000 in donations, the newspaper said, and work is on track to be completed during the 2013 construction season.