Mayor Becker & local leaders officially open northern section of Jordan River Trail

Sorry for the delay in getting this story up. On June 7th, Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker, Councilman Carlton Christensen, WFRC Executive Director Andrew Gruber, Jordan River Commission Director Laura Hanson, and Davis County Commissioner Louenda Downs (my favorite speaker) spoke and officially opened the northernmost section of the Jordan River Parkway Trail, which is now completed between the Davis County line to the north and the existing trailhead at 1800 North Redwood Road.

Mayor Becker, backed by other community leaders, addresses attendees and the press
at June 7th official opening of the northern section of the JRT.
(Photo: Tom Millar / SaltCycle.org)

As the press conference proceeded and the speakers expressed their visions and hopes for the trail (emphasizing connectedness between municipalities and counties), commuters, recreational bicyclists, roadies, and walkers passed by as a testament to the effectiveness of the trail. Many people use the trail to commute to or from Davis County everyday. Prior to the completion of this trail, rider either had to brave Redwood Road, use the eastern Beck Street route, or 2200 West. This new section of the Jordan River Trail provides safe and through access for all types of bicyclists.

Due to the new paving surface, a spectacular boardwalk, and its connectivity and seamless integration with the Legacy Parkway Trail in Davis County, this new one mile section of the trail is its best section overall. The trail surface is very smooth and the scenery is unmatched anywhere else in the city.

The new boardwalk on the JRT is smooth and elevates riders and walkers
above the wetlands and grasses below.
(Photo: Mike Christensen)

This section of the trail is one of the last "missing pieces" in making a contiguous and cohesive path from Ogden in the north to Utah Lake in the south. Only four more sections remain to be completed, only one of which is in Salt Lake City (between North Temple and 200 South where the Jordan River goes beneath the Union Pacific tracks and Rocky Mountain Power property. Plans and negotiations between the stakeholders are in the making to complete this complicated section in the near future. The remaining three segments to be completed are in Bluffdale and West Jordan.

More photos after the break.

SLC's Bike Ped Coordinator, Becka Roolf, takes the trail for a test ride.
(Photo: Deseret News)

Members of the press and the community gather around the bridge at 1800 N Redwood
before the June 7th press conference.
(Photo: Tom Millar / SaltCycle.org)

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