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Work Moves Forward on Mississippi River Trail Project Posted 4 August 2008 Earth Tech Co. of Waterloo, under contract with Allamakee County, is continuing work on the local Mississippi River Trail project feasibility study.   Allamakee County requested the study to locate the best bike trail routes after they received $5.2 million in federally earmarked funds for the completion of the trail. The county must come up with a $1 million match for the federal money. The Mississippi River Trail (MRT) is a nationally recognized bike trail that runs from the headwaters of the Mississippi River in Itasca, Minn., to the Gulf of Mexico. The trail runs through 10 states and includes almost 3,000 miles of shared-roadway and bike/pedestrian paths that follow along the river. The trail must be within 10 miles of the Mississippi River. Iowa lands will account for almost 280 miles of the MRT.   A public informational meeting was held last month in Lansing to discuss what the feasibility study found, as well as the alternatives for bicycle routes for the MRT in this area.   Mark Durbahn of Earth Tech discussed informational sources with which to compare data, such as other bike paths and trails in Iowa, and the Root River Trail in Minnesota.   Durbahn says part of the goal of the study is to create a “destination trail.” A destination trail is a recreational use-only trail in a scenic area that can draw out-of town visitors.   The presentation began by discussing the route from just north of Marquette to Effigy Mounds National Monument and then to Waukon Junction.   The feasibility study is now entering its final stages. The 15 member Advisory Committee for the feasibility study will meet again in the next few weeks to review what was presented and to study the trail suggestions. The final report of the feasibility study will be completed in September.

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