Council approves design for North Diamond Lake Road trail crossing, opts for 2025 build

The Dayton City Council voted 5-0 Feb. 11 to authorize design work for a trail extension and pedestrian landing across North Diamond Lake Road that would connect Ione Gardens and Pine View Meadows neighborhoods and complete a larger regional trail link.

Staff presented two options: build the trail and crossing in 2025, including road widening and a pedestrian landing with potential flashing beacons; or wait until an anticipated Hennepin County intersection improvement (likely a roundabout) around 2029 and fold the crossing into that larger project. Staff estimated the full 2025 project at roughly $997,000 and estimated the city’s share would be smaller if the work were bundled with the county project in 2029 (city share estimated at about $702,000 in the staff analysis). The 2025 option included an estimated $70,000 allowance for flashing beacons pending county approval.

Parks commissioners recommended moving forward in 2025 so the city could close another gap in its trail network. Council discussion also identified a possible lower-cost alignment that would route a sidewalk or short connection between homes instead of building the entire crossing; staff said that option requires easements and additional field work and could be investigated during design.

Council authorized the design-phase engineering agreement; staff noted the trail fund has about $2.7 million available and that design authorization would not automatically commit full construction dollars. The motion to proceed with option A (design including the crossing) passed 5-0.