Another segment of the Loop the Lake trail around Onondaga Lake is ready for bikers, joggers and walkers.
Only the finishing touches are left on a portion of the trail on the west side of the lake. It effectively brings the trail from just after the Lakeview Amphitheater to the 690 WestFairgrounds exit. Tony DaRin of Barton and Loguidice, the engineering firm handling the job, said it was a difficult stretch to complete, because it sits on the old Solvay waste beds.
"It created a lot of challenges. It’s stability is so variable. When it’s dry it sets up nicely. But when it’s wet and you’re working in it wet, it turns into a mud pit," said DaRin. "So there were structural type fill applications to be put out here to get it stabilized. But once you have a finished product like this, everything is environmentally safe, and stable."
Onondaga County has also announced the next phase of the Loop the Lake trail. It will include an iconic bridge, bringing it across railroad tracks near the Destiny USA, where it will meet with the City of Syracuse’s creek walk.
"This could potentially be one of those images that becomes part of the skyline for the city of Syracuse. When you think about standing on the lake, looking back into the city," DaRin said.
It’s expected to be finished by the end of 2020. At that point, DaRin said the complete trail around the lake will be 80% complete. All that’s left is taking through Murphy’s Island and up the east side of the lake to Onondaga Lake Park. The county is working with the state on designs for that.
