Trail closures in Springfield--surprise! People use trails for travel, not just recreation

Ozarks First is covering a story about a section of the Galloway Creek Trail that is being closed in Springfield because of construction:

Construction at the Highway 60 and Highway 65 interchange is slowing down car traffic. It also threatens to bring the traffic on the Ozark Greenways trail to a halt. . . .

Area groups, including Ozarks Greenways worked with MoDOT to minimize trail closures.

Though many people who use the trails for recreation can probably find other routes to use, many use the trails for transportation or commuting and it is not as easy to find an alternative route for such cyclists as for recreational cyclists.

Unfortunately, MoDOT was able to do little to reduce or minimize trail closures--or find and mark detours--and the result is long trail closures that have created real access problems:

"If they would just open it up in the part they're not working on," he says.

"They're going to amp up construction," [Lori] Tack [of Ozark Greenways] says. "And it's only going to become more of a danger." . . .

Tack says there's a silver lining: Ozark Greenways is learning just how many people use its trails to commute to work by bicycle.

You can find more info about construction projects and the trail closures on the MoDOT District 8 web site.

If you'd like to give feedback to MoDOT about the trail closures, you leave a comment on MoDOT's online feedback form or call (417) 895-7600.