Work set to begin on Johnny Cash Trail Overcrossing

The large mound of dirt on East Natoma Street near the entrance to Folsom Lake Crossing will soon be moved as the first step in the process of building the Johnny Cash Trail bike/pedestrian overcrossing. The city saved more than a half million dollars by salvaging and stockpiling 58,000 cubic yards of dirt from the Folsom Lake Crossing Bridge project. That dirt will soon be used to build ramps leading to the new bike/pedestrian bridge. The new bridge will be located just north of the stop light at the intersection of East Natoma Street and Folsom Lake Crossing. The new roadway overcrossing will be funded with $1.6 million in state and federal grants, according to Jim Konopka, senior trails planner. The overcrossing will be 300 feet long, plus an additional 2,000 feet for the approach ramps, 12 feet wide and 19 feet high. "Our contractor will move the dirt and build the ramps this fall, beginning the week of Sept. 12," said Konopka. "We hope to finish final design of the bridge in the spring and move forward with construction soon after."Construction of the new overcrossing will require the removal of approximately 26 oak trees. Konopka said the original plans called for the removal of 51 trees. However, a revised ramp and bridge design will save 25 trees."Even with the modest increase in the cost of bridge construction, this was the right thing to do and will save nearly half of the oak trees on the site," Konopka added."To mitigate the loss of the mature trees, the City is required to plant 476 trees, including both 15-gallon and 24-inch box trees," Folsom City Arborist Ken Menzer said. "The new trees will include a variety of native oaks, including Blue Oak, Live Oak and Valley Oak, plus some additional local native trees. These new trees will fill in the blank areas where the old road was located prior to the realignment." The Johnny Cash Trail is one of the newest segments of Folsom's planned 50-mile long trail system. The Johnny Cash Trail will extend from the Folsom Rodeo grounds to El Dorado County once all three phases are complete. Questions about the construction project may be directed to Konopka at (916) 351-3516 or Project Manager Travis Segebart at 351-3511.~ Staff report