Work has halted on the PlyWood Trail between Le Mars and Merrill following the June flooding, preventing the trail from being open as planned this summer.

“We’ve been excited for the trail to be open for all cyclists, runners and walkers this summer, but an unusually wet spring and June flooding have led to completion challenges,” PlyWood Trail Foundation Executive Director Ryan Schaap said on Wednesday. “We appreciate the community’s patience and we’re excited to provide a safe place for citizens to recreate and to connect the communities of Le Mars and Merrill this fall.”

The PlyWood Trail Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, provided an update regarding the availability of the Phase 1 trail from Merrill to Le Mars, as well as progress made on other portions of the trail.

The concept was to create a safe and scenic transportation link for bicycle and pedestrian travel between Plymouth and Woodbury counties connecting the communities of Le Mars, Merrill, Hinton, Sioux City and beyond, according to the trail’s website.

The trail was divided into three sections. The first phase connects Le Mars and Merrill and includes two water crossings and a major bridge structure. The estimated cost was $3.8 million.