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Skating Newsletter Article Another Alamo Stretch Closed
Danville, California - I'm just back from skating the Iron Horse Trail from Danville to Rudgear and back. I wanted to check out the closure for the EBMUD water project. Despite the early rains, the trail is in good shape. There are a few sections with damp leaves making the trail a bit slick, but they are easily negotiated. The closed section is in Alamo between Ramona Way on the south and Hilgrade on the north. You can detour around the closure by going one block east to Danville Blvd. Danville Blvd has good shoulders, but the traffic can be heavy during commute hours so be careful. Be sure to remember the start and end points, Ramona and Hilgrade, so you can return to the trail as soon as possible. The detour is a little bit less than a mile. The closure is scheduled to end January 1st. The section from Hillgrade to Rudgear, open now, is scheduled to be closed from December into early 2004.
More construction has commenced at the northern section of the trail bridging the gap between Mayhew Way and Hookston, north of the Pleasant Hill BART Station. That will be a welcome addition. I also noticed work in progress north of Monument Blvd, in Concord. I'll investigate that section again soon.
There is a great stretch of new asphalt on the Iron Horse Trail in Danville! The formerly heavily cracked and patched section between Sycamore Valley Road and San Ramon Valley Blvd. has been completely replaced. No longer do parents have to fear that their small children and pets are in danger of disappearing into one of the crevasses. The fresh pavement now begs for smooth fast skating. There is one section of bad pavement left in Danville - Behind the San Ramon Valley High School. Hopefully that is high on EBRPD's list for repair.
There is a great article about East Bay trails including the Iron Horse in the Summer 2002 issue of Rails to Trails Magazine www.railstrails.org.
As reported earlier, the Iron Horse Trail project in Danville is complete. You can now pass through Danville without leaving the Iron Horse Trail and without risking a unguarded crossing of busy San Ramon Valley Blvd. There are also two pleasant new rest areas - at San Ramon Valley Blvd. and at Prospect. There is easy access from the new trail section to Peet's Coffee, Andronico's Market and other shops in the appropriately named Iron Horse Plaza.
While you are in Danville, take time to visit the new museum in the restored railroad station. You will learn all about the history of Danville and the San Ramon Valley. There are clean rest rooms in the old caboose.
Enjoy - We are!
Comments or questions? Ask Liz.
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