Repairs on the Bay Trail? So soon?

Yes, but it’s not because the thing is caving in, or anything like that. Hank Seemann, the county’s deputy director of Public Works and the point person for all things trails, tells the Outpost that the work — which will take place on Thursday and Friday next week, between Brainard and Bracut — is to make sure the trail meets exacting ADA compliance standards.

The Americans with Disabilities Act says that a trail should have no more than a two percent grade, side to side, which is pretty difficult to achieve when you’re just laying down asphalt with a spreader, Seemann said.

So next week’s work comes after a series of minute measurements along the county’s segment of the trail, and will involve flattening those bits that need flattening.

Press release from the Humboldt County Department of Public Works:

The Humboldt County Department of Public Works is in the process of preparing to conduct repair work on the Humboldt Bay Trail on Thursday, June 4 and Friday, June 5.

The portion of the Humboldt Bay Trail between the Brainard Mill Site and the Bracut Industrial Park will be closed from 7:00 a.m. on June 4 through 5:00 p.m. on June 5 while these repairs are being completed.

Repair work will involve removing and replacing asphalt surfacing to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Localized areas of asphalt will be repaired to ensure compliance with ADA slope requirements.

Trail users are asked to follow all traffic control devices and trail closure signs in the construction area. Thank you for your patience while repair work is in progress.

If you have any concerns or questions regarding this project, please, call 707-445-7448.