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Monroe Loop Trail near completion; commissioners and residents press for improved signage and safety at crossings
Summary
Project engineers said the 6.5-mile Monroe Loop Trail is roughly 93% complete by contract value, with the remaining work concentrated along 7th Street pending railroad coordination. Residents raised safety concerns at trail access points; staff said design follows AASHTO and MDOT standards and additional notices will be installed.
Manica Smith engineer Brad Bice updated the board on the Monroe Loop Trail, describing it as an approximately 6.5-mile shared-use path and saying construction is nearly complete. "We're about 93% based on your value of the contract," he told commissioners, and noted the remaining work centers on the 7th Street corridor where coordination with a railroad has delayed final paving and signage installation.
During public questions, a resident warned of safety risks at access points, describing cyclists and motorbikes crossing with inadequate active warnings: "There's just a matter before we're gonna have some serious accidents," the resident said. County staff and project representatives responded that designs follow AASHTO and MDOT standards and that additional nonmotorized and warning notices are being fabricated and will be mounted on existing signposts; staff also said they are monitoring user behavior and may propose targeted changes after observation.
Commissioners and staff emphasized enforcement and public education in the short term, and staff committed to weekly coordination with the railroad and to install delineators and final pavement markings where needed. No formal board vote was required; staff will continue coordination and installation work prior to final acceptance.
