Three Weeks

The end is nigh; paving of the portions of ABT along SW 41st Place (Kanapaha Park) and Tower Road will begin next week along with the remaining section at Haile’s Equestrian facility. Predicted time for completion of the entire project is three weeks. This will include excavation and paving of the short section at Kimball Wiles Elementary School where ABT crosses Tower Road. Transition points at all intersections are marked and final work on drainage and landscaping has begun.

Is a Grand Opening being planned for this section of ABT? Linking ABT through Haile with activities in Haile Village seems obvious irrespective of the resistance by many Haile residents. Rather than being an unwanted eyesore, Hipp Construction has done a fine job of mating ABT to Haile Boulevard as it enters the Plantation and 91st Streets more aggressive and direct approach.

Getting to the Saturday Farmers’ Market from Kanapaha Park will be a pleasant ride and one that can be made safely by families. Several vendors at the Market who make delectable consumables are working on bicycle related items and might be encouraged to offer discounts or deals to people arriving by bike!

41st Place and Tower Road; Entrance to Kanapaha Park

41st Place at Kanapaha Park

Tower Road ready to be paved

Gainesville, we have asphalt!

Paving of the 91st Street section of Archer Braid Trail through Haile Plantation began today and by 1700 (5:00 pm) was nearing completion. Final preparation has also been done on most of the Trail paralleling Haile Blvd (SW 45th Blvd) and preliminary grading completed along the section passing by Haile Equestrian Center.
Looking north on SW 91st Blvd from Archer Road.

Construction at intersection transition points along the entire route and at the intersection at SW 91st Street and Haile Blvd. is underway.


Intersection of Haile Blvd with SW 91st  Street

Paving WILL begin!

Paving equipment is ready and sod has been placed along SW 91st Street. Curbing has been removed at each of the intersections along SW 46th Blvd. except for the intersection at SW 81st Terrace west of Haile Equestrian Center. The section from SW 81st Terrace to Tower Road will be paved when grading over recently installed drainage is completed.

One Tenth to Go

Rode to Archer this afternoon and found that the Trail is now complete to within about 1/10 mile of it's actual terminus. Work continues there and my guess is that upon completion of that project the last segment will become asphalt.

Until then everyone can ride the Trail and access the Archer end from the parking lot behind Sav-a-Lot. There is a fifty yard or so expanse of grass to traverse before getting on or off the Trail. The rest of the distance between Archer and G'ville is smooth and pleasant.

Everyday It's Getting Closer

OK, so it's not quite done and all the false alarms have been a pain, but paving has moved into the woods east of Archer and it is now possible to ride on smooth asphalt  between SW 154th Street, the access road to Jordan Glen School, and SW 91st. The short distance from the Trail to Archer Road using SW 154th Street is a minor inconvenience for anyone riding between G'ville and Archer and it will disappear soon.

Evidence that the project is nearing completion is the installation of tactile thermoplastic warning strips at all intersections.

Well, Damn!

I'm a little late saying this, but I was disappointed on Friday when I rode west hoping to see the final stages of paving the Archer Trail through the woods into Archer. Two or so miles before reaching Archer, but after Parker Road paving had come to a halt. I continued on to Archer and found construction continuing around the water system project at the trail head. Maybe completion of this project is the reason for the delay. Nonetheless, except for skinny tire road bikes all of the Trail is navigable. It is rough through the woods to Archer, but on my 1.5 inch wide Marathons it's no worse than a lot of the rural roads I commonly ride.

"Might get to Parker Road today."

Thus spoke one of the men working on paving the Archer Braid Trail

I was on the last leg of a forty mile ride when . . . well . . .  the title says it and the pictures below show it.

Except for the Trailhead in Archer, paving should be completed in time to ride unfettered from 91st to Archer on Saturday!