(KNSI) – Sartell has approved the final design of the County Road 1 project (Riverside Drive South) designed to embrace the Mississippi River and open a new age of revitalization while celebrating Sartell’s history.
Construction will include:
- An 8-foot-wide paved trail from Sartell Street to 12th Street North.
- Multiple overlooks of the Mississippi River.
- A “new” pedestrian bridge.
- A facelift to Veterans Park.
- Reconstruction of the parking lot at Watab Park.
- Safety measures throughout the entirety of the project.
The project also includes sidewalk connectors from the Riverside trail to existing trails on 7th Street North and 12th Street North.
According to the city, this will provide Sartell with a complete trail network from 2nd Street South to 12th Street North and beyond.
After hearing feedback about safety concerns from residents, the council added and approved additional features to the project, including pedestrian flashers, pedestrian islands, and radar speed signs.
Councilmember Jill Smith elaborated: “The County 1 Road design will support a breadth of users. Avid bikers will continue to have and utilize bike lanes on the road; recreational users will have safe places to cross County Road 1 when walking, jogging, and biking along the Mississippi River. Currently, all pedestrians and bikers utilize the already narrow roadway, which sees an incredible amount of traffic and several site impediments. We appreciated all of the feedback from residents and worked with our engineering team to make several plan adjustments as a result. Connecting our existing trail system with Mississippi River outlooks will be a fantastic amenity for the city.”
The very south end of the trail will be a “new” pedestrian bridge. The historic bridge was previously used as the only vehicle crossing of the Mississippi River from 1914 to 1984 and is currently closed.
Sartell intends to keep the bridge’s original character and rustic feel but will update the bridge and add decorative lighting and safety features.
The city council hopes the project will lead to commercial opportunities on the East side of the River.
Preparation for the project will begin this fall, with construction to begin in the spring of 2022.
The estimated cost is $12 million and the cost will be split between Sartell and Stearns County.
Most of the project will be completed late in 2022, with final paving to take place in the spring of 2023.
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