Project will bring intermittent closures of bike trail

California State Parks, in collaboration with the Sacramento Municipal Utilities District (SMUD), will intermittently close a segment of the American River Bike Trail within Folsom Lake State Recreation Area for a utility undergrounding project. Starting March 17, the trail will be closed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday between Mountain Oak Court and the Rainbow Bridge. State Parks expects to reopen the trail by April 1. This trail closure is necessary for SMUD to install utilities beneath the bike path, according to State Parks. During construction hours, there will be no designated detour route, and trail users are encouraged to find an alternate path. Outside of construction hours, the trail will remain open but be reduced to a single travel lane. "We understand this project will impact trail users and have worked closely with SMUD to schedule this project outside of peak use times," said Folsom Lake Sector Superintendent Mike Howard. "While this closure may be an inconvenience in the short term, the long-term benefits will enhance community safety and provide more reliable utilities." SMUD personnel will be present during the closure to help ensure the public's safety and prevent access to the construction zone. For updates on the project, check the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area webpage and Facebook page.