The Auburn to Cool
Trail through the project site has been closed for several months
now because of safety issues associated with the excavation
work. The trail has also recently been re-routed away from the
main area of construction activity and is scheduled to re-open
to public use on February 1, 2004. The new trail segment crosses
the dry riverbed just upstream of the diversion tunnel outlet
and from there climbs along the old "Haul Road" to
the Knickerbocker Flat area on the El Dorado County side of
the canyon.
Please note that during the remaining period of construction
or until further notice, the Auburn to Cool Trail through the
project site will be open for public use on Sundays only.
The contractor is on site Monday through Saturday and safety
concerns make it unfeasible to allow recreational use in the
area during those days.
Planning for a pedestrian bridge across the restored river is
scheduled to begin in February 2004. The bridge will likely
be located just downstream of the diversion tunnel outlet and
will tie into the newly re-routed Auburn to Cool Trail. The
bridge project is fully funded, with PCWA contributing $500,000
and the state of California allocating up to $1 million in Proposition
40 funds. The design of the bridge remains to be determined,
with a number of different options under consideration.
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