Possible Le Sueur/Henderson trail progressing

Recent developments have Todd Redmann and Terry Bovee cautiously optimistic about the potential for a Le Sueur-to-Henderson recreational trail, but both men are politically savvy enough to know it is far from becoming a reality.

For about the past two years, area residents Redmann and Bovee have been looking at options for a possible non-motorized hiking/biking trail connecting Le Sueur and the Ney Environmental Learning Center/county park east of Henderson in Tyrone Township. The two have had meetings with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), U.S. Fish and Wildlife; along with officials of Le Sueur County, the cities of Le Sueur, Henderson and Tyrone Township.

Bovee and Redmann have also spoke with some of the property owners who could be impacted by the trail. “Not everyone is sure about the idea,” Bovee said, “but at least they’re showing up (to meetings). It’s important to have their input if this is going to be a success.”

At this point, Redmann and Bovee have developed four possible routes for the Le Sueur/Ney trail, coined as the “Oxcart Trail”. Each route has its advantages and drawbacks, but they all have a major (and expensive) issue – the crossing of U.S. Highway 169.

Redmann and Bovee have put together an application for a Federal Transportation Enhancement Grant in the amount of $400,000 to specifically deal with the Highway 169 crossing. Their plan begins the trail at Le Sueur’s Mayo Park. The trail goes north on State Highway 112. Just before Highway 112 intersects with Doppy Lane, the trail cuts under the highway to connect with Doppy Lane.

“We met with MnDOT engineers and they said, ‘no way’,” Redmann said. “At some point their thinking changed. They didn’t want to close the off-ramp from (U.S. Highway) 169 without a suitable alternate route. But now they seem willing to route traffic down County Road 28 (St. Paul Hill) for the two weeks the road would be closed.”

The application features two options for going under Highway 112 – an open cut, or boring a 140-foot tunnel under the highway. Estimates show the open cut method would cost about $400,000; while boring would cost over twice as much. “We did both to show there was an economical option,” Bovee explained.

Economical or not, somewhere down the line local governmental agencies are going to be asked to chip in to pay for the Highway 169 crossing. Engineering and easement costs cannot be paid for with grant money. Those costs are expected to fall in the range of 20 percent of the total project. That 20 percent would be the responsibility of an outside agency which could include county and/or city funds, or private donations; and the 20 percent commitment would have to be made by 2016.

In the case of the open cut option, the 20 percent figure translates to about $80,000.

Earlier this month the Le Sueur County Board agreed to act as the fiscal agent for the grant application, but did not make any promises toward the 20 percent match.

The Le Sueur City Council is also aware of the Oxcart Trail project, but has yet to make any financial commitment.

“One of the reasons this grant application is looked upon favorably by MnDOT,” Redmann said, “is the trail creates a pedestrian connection to the two sections of Le Sueur. Right now there is no way to get from the south part of Le Sueur to Doppy Lane unless you have a vehicle. We’re hoping the city sees the value of this project. Ultimately we’re hoping the county kicks in some and the city kicks in some. Luckily we have a few years to put something together.”

Meanwhile, trail proponents received some good news for a trail segment in the historical East Henderson area. Negotiations are ongoing with U.S. Fish and Wildlife which owns a fair amount of land in that area. U.S. Fish and Wildlife has expressed interest in developing a trail from East Henderson to the State Highway 19 bridge on the east side of the city of Henderson. The trail would utilize an old roadway which has long been abandoned, but portions still exist. Bovee believes this connection could happen as soon as this coming summer.

“I firmly beleive that if no effort is made,” Bovee said, “nothing ever happens. So I’ll keep plugging away at it. Who knows, we may be able to hike the river bottom crossing next year!”