SACRAMENTO, California -- On Thursday, November 4, 2021, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District will begin improvements to the Pioneer Express Trail from the south side of the Beals Point entrance road south to the American River Bike Trail. Once improvements are complete, the district will make similar improvements to the nearby Beals Point to Granite Bay multi-use trail from the north side of the Beals Point entrance road to Granite Bay. The trails will be closed during this construction, but detours will be in place.
The district will modify the trails one at a time, to ensure that one trail always remains open. The anticipated dates for closure are:
- Pioneer Express Trail: Nov. 4 – Nov. 26, 2021
- Beals Point to Granite Bay Trail: Nov. 27, 2021 – Mar. 1, 2022
The scheduled improvements include repair, reconstruction and minor re-routes to approximately 2,300 feet of the Pioneer Express Trail and approximately 9,500 feet of the Beals Point to Granite Bay Trail. This work will enable the trails to support increased traffic anticipated during the remaining phases of the Folsom Dam Raise Project.
“As part of the overall Folsom Dam Raise Project, we intend to raise Dikes 4, 5, and 6 up to 3.5 feet to increase the capacity of Folsom Lake and reduce downstream flood risk,” said Chelsea Stewart, project manager for the Folsom Dam Raise Project. “To minimize impacts to public recreation, we are improving the trails adjacent to the planned dike modifications well in advance of the construction work.”
Construction on the dikes is scheduled to begin in Fall 2022.
The trail improvements are the result of a collaboration between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and California State Parks, which administers and maintains the trails. They also reflect the USACE commitment to mitigate construction impacts, preserve the environment, and improve recreation opportunities in our communities.
The trail improvements will include vegetation clearance to improve line of sight and comply with California State Parks standards. The Sacramento District will also grade the trail, repair and install drainage features, remove ruts, and widen the trail where necessary. Some sections of the trail will be entirely reconstructed.
The trail detour for the Pioneer Express Trial will be the American River Bike Trail. Trail detours for the Beals Point to Granite Bay Trail will be the trails on top of Dikes 4, 5 & 6.
For construction updates, bookmark the USACE Sacramento District website and follow us on social media: