The first mile of the MoPac East Recreational Trail will be resurfaced using crushed limestone.

Until last fall the NRD had considered paving the one mile wooded stretch, but a survey of trail users in October revealed a majority prefer the existing crushed limestone surface. The survey grew out of a need for significant maintenance on that part of the trail, due to larger rocks, originally used as ballast, working their way upward until they protrude through the surface, spoiling the smoothness the crushed limestone provides.

The one mile segment at the Lincoln end is the most-utilized part of the 25-mile recreational trail that extends past Elmwood to Wabash. It is also the very first section of trail constructed by the NRD in the early ‘90s, after the Nebraska Trail Foundation and the Great Plains Trails Network raised funds to purchase the rail corridor from the Missouri Pacific Railroad.

The NRD has since built and now maintains about 50 miles of trails and the upcoming reconstruction will utilize better methods than were used originally to create that part of the MoPac. Some erosion concerns will also be addressed by the project. Watch lpsnrd.org for information about start and completion dates.