Baxter considers $180,000 trail on Clearwater Road amid bridge uncertainty

City council in Baxter reviewed a draft feasibility report on Oct. 20 that includes a proposed pedestrian trail on Clearwater Road. The plan involves a path separated from the street that would connect with Golf Course Drive. The estimated cost for the project ranges from $150,000 to $180,000, a figure that includes utility conflicts and easement issues.

The trail discussion emerged as part of the planning for 2027 street pavement and reclamation projects. Mayor Darrel Olson stated that residents have inquired about the trail directly. He noted that previous long-range planning involved a pedestrian and bicycle bridge over Highway 371. That bridge was intended to link the Paul Bunyan State Trail on the east with the Clearwater area on the west, creating a route to the Whipple Beach recreational area.

Olson explained that plans for the Highway 371 overpass project have shifted the strategic landscape. He raised questions about whether the bridge location should move farther north or if the projects should be treated as separate entities. Alex Bitter, a consulting engineer with Widseth, provided the cost estimates for the Clearwater trail. Bitter noted that variables in the design warrant a range of potential expenditures.

The city’s Utilities Commission recommended adding the separated trail to the project study. Olson emphasized that the trail serves a safety function regardless of the bridge’s final location. He stated that the scenario remains a safety concern either way. Olson also addressed property ownership in the area, noting that Good Samaritan owns the land bordering Golf Course Drive, Cypress Drive, and Clearwater Road.

Olson mentioned that the property owner faces substantial assessments. He preferred to keep the trail cost entirely with the city. Trevor Walter, the public works director and city engineer, confirmed that the trail would be a city assessment. Walter stated that the cost is 100% city-funded and is not being assessed to any other party.

Council member Patrick Sundberg asked about extending the trail along Edgewood Drive. Sundberg, who owns Jack Pine Brewery, reported seeing many pedestrians on the service drive, particularly with the nearby Kwik Trip. Olson responded that there is no room for a trail farther south due to the narrow frontages resulting from the road’s expansion from two lanes to four. He noted the area handles heavy traffic and cyclists.

Duane Ruona, a resident of Country Club Estates, attended the meeting to support the trail. Ruona said he currently walks on the grass along Clearwater Road to avoid traffic. He noted that the situation will worsen when detours for the Highway 371 overpass project begin. Ruona argued that the trail would provide a safe connection to the Paul Bunyan State Trail and the Cypress Drive path.

Walter stated that a separate bike path connecting Novotny Road to Woida Road will be completed by July 1 of next year. Sundberg suggested this new connection might increase pedestrian traffic in the area. The council reached a consensus to keep the Clearwater trail in the feasibility study.

Olson confirmed that the trail remains under consideration for future street work. The decision follows a workshop session held before the regular meeting. The report will guide the city’s approach to the 2027 reclamation projects.