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7/8/2021 7:08:38 PM |
General |
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CeMar Bridge Trail Project Opens |
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Chamber ambassadors and community leaders will come together on Monday, July 12, to celebrate the completion of a portion of the CeMar Trail project. A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 4:30 p.m. on the reconstructed former railroad bridge that spans Indian Creek. Attendees are encouraged to park at Thomas Park, 343 Marion Blvd., since the only access to the bridge is via the trail on foot or by bicycle. Once a staple in Marion, the Milwaukee Railroad served the community for decades. The bridge was first built in 1915 and has been a hidden giant since the last passenger train rolled through Marion in 1971. With new piers, its original girders and fresh paving, the reconstructed bridge takes on new life for pedestrians and bicyclists and pays tribute to Marion’s railroad history. This portion of the trail will officially reopen after Monday’s ceremony, reinstating the Boyson Trail which has been closed for about a year. Some seasonal work remains but should not require full closure of the trail. Work on the fourth phase of this project, construction of the gateway bridge over Marion Boulevard, is expected to begin within the next month. Once completed, the CeMar Trail will serve as a direct bicycle and pedestrian connection from Downtown Cedar Rapids to Uptown Marion. This bridge will also serve as a vital link along the Grant Wood Trail which creates an east/west trail connection through the City of Marion into surrounding jurisdictions.
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