Chichaqua Valley Trail Update

Author: Loren Lown
Posted By: ss

Loren Lown
Mon February 13 2012
Posted Feb 13, 2012
3,897

The Chichaqua Valley Trail was hit hard with flood
waters August 2011. The trail has been closed since then awaiting for the funding the fix the trail.

The Chichaqua Valley Trail connects these 5 towns: Baxter, Ira, Mingo, Valeria, Bondurant

12 different sections along the 20 mile trail were washed out.

Polk County provided this update:

The Chichaqua Valley Trail project is finally moving along even though not all portions have received FEMA approval.

We won’t bid out the project until everything is approved but will be ready to do so when we get the required approvals. Jasper County’s portion has received approval and we anticipate Polk will soon be authorized to expend funds. Construction estimates are that the entire repair project will exceed $800,000 (a considerable difference from the $60,000 original budget item). Polk County and Jasper County have signed a 28E agreement that specifies Polk County as the contracting party for the entire repair project. We now hope to put the projects out for bid soon and begin construction in the summer of the year.

The
Trail is most likely going to reopen in the Fall of 2012. The trail
repairs are very complicated with the multiple washouts, the historic
structures and stone culverts, working with FEMA, and obtaining
federal flood monies.

Stay tuned for more updates as they become available.