On the Salem Creek Greenway in Washington Park on the south side of the bridge crossing Salem Creek, the approach to the bridge has been redesigned. Before, the bridge's entrance/exit was directly onto the greenway with limited visibility on the western side. Now, as you exit the bridge, the greenway extends southward to a three-way interchange that lets foot and bike traffic move safely. Kudos to the city.
Showing posts with label Salem Creek Greenway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Salem Creek Greenway. Show all posts
Greenways look nice
The Salem Creem Greenway looks the best it has looked in a year. The grass on the sides of the greenway has been mowed much further back and much of the brush has been cut back or killed. Graffiti has been painted over. Fallen limbs and trees have not just been pushed to the sides of the trail, they have been removed. It was a pleasant surprise; it looks the way the Granite City Greenway in Mount Airy looks all the time. And then I remembered that the annual Gears & Guitars cycling event is coming soon so the city wants to give a good (but false) impression to visitors. Get out and enjoy the greenway while you can because it will not look this nice again until next August.
Yippee!
The city just learned it is getting $809,600 in federal money, to go with $202,400 of local matching funds, to fix the low-lying stretch of concrete sidewalk and a ford on the Salem Creek Greenway about a half-mile west of the Salem Lake dam; an area that is usually flooded. There is no timetable yet for the work; the project has to be engineered and then the job put out for bids.
Bad ride/good ride
I drove to Armstrong Park in High Point to ride the High Point Greenway and Bicentennial Greenway to Greensboro (a 20-mile out and back ride). A mile into the ride, at the entrance to High Point University, the greenway was closed between North Centennial Street and North Univerity Parkway for maintenance; it was due to open in mid-September but it is still closed. I attempted to find my way through the university to the other side but the university was holding its Fall Family Weekend and it was a mass of cars everywhere and hordes of people swarming everywhere. Finally, I got pissed off, gave up, drove back to Winston-Salem, ate at Mr. Barbeque, and rode the Salem Creek Greenway/Salem Lake Trail loop (a 16-mile ride).
Salem Creek Greenway fully open
The greenway closure at the ford and creekside sidewalk has been opened and the kudzu along the greenway has been mowed. There was a large running event held Saturday morning along the greenway and the trail. Coincidence?
You tax money at work
The city is spending bond money to replace the ground material under the equipment in the children's play area that was only built a few years ago. It is constructing new areas outside the main gate. It is building a new boat ramp, which involves lowering the level of the lake, which means the Salem Creek Greenway will be closed from the Reynolda Park Road bridge to Salem Lake Trail for months due to high, rushing water along the greenway at the concrete sidewalk and ford.
How much of the bond money is being spent on the actual greenway and trail. ZERO. Salem Lake trail is more like a well-used dirt road to a logging operation; it is rutted, the surface is washing away, there are areas of constant standing water and mud, areas where water constantly runs over the trail, exposed large rocks, ancient drainage pipes are completely clogged, etc. The greenway even has kudzu growing ONTO the pavement.
The six-mile Granite City Greenway in Mount Airy is always immaculate. It is always clean, clear of debris, and they have bridges over all the low-lying areas. The High Point Greenway has over a thousand feet of elevated trail over a rugged section of terrain. However, the Salem Creek Greenway has a sidewalk beside the creek at creek level and a ford used to cross the creek. Water flows over these areas most of the time and the area is impassable after heavy rain or when lowering the lake. But to be fair, the city may never fix the problems but it always apologizes for the inconvenience.
Salem Creek Greenway HAZARD
Eastbound on the greenway headed toward the Salem Lake dam, just as you cross the concrete ford, about 200 yards further east, there is a large limbless, dead tree trunk lying across the trail and the shoulders of the trail. It is about a foot in diameter. The only way to get past it is to go over it. When approaching from the dam side, it is visible on a straightaway. When approaching from the ford side it is just past a curve so be careful. As usual, it probably won't be taken care of by the city until next week, or maybe later.
Salem Creek Greenway and Salem Lake Loop Ride
My first ride of the greenway/lake loop this year. I started at Marketplace Mall.
It's only been three days since the big Thursday night rainstorm. There is evidence of lots of sand having been removed from sections of the greenway. The concrete ford has rushing weather but is crossable. The concrete sideway area near the ford has rushing water but it is only a couple of inches deep and easily passable. As you near the dam, a tree has fallen in the trail but a one-lane path is cut through it.
As you ride clockwise around the lake, there is evidence of fallen trees having been removed. There are lots of fresh ruts and loose sand in curves to watch out for. As you near Linville road, there is a section of the trail that is known to stay soggy. It has some really nasty fresh ruts. Alongside the trail where a long puddle usually stays for weeks, the water is running. In eight years of riding the trail, I've never seen it have running water. On the south side of the lake, the west side of the big hill has many nasty ruts, At the bottom of the hill, I had to hop over one fresh, deep rut.
I had to poke along behind two horseback riders for about 100 yards in a curvy section before having an opportunity to slowly pass. Horses are rare on the trail but they are permitted.
Riding the trail with idiots is always a challenge, such as people walking on the wrong side of the trail in blind turns looking at their phones. In the middle of one sharp blind turn, a woman was kneeling helping her child. Groups of people walking and blocking the trail and then reluctantly moving over just enough at the last minute for you to squeeze by. As I rode by an unleashed dog, it didn't bark but as I passed it, it ran after me and nipped my leg.
Trail Status
The greenway and trail are in good shape EXCEPT for two trees down on the trail on the north side of the lake about a mile east of the dam; the trees down block the entire trail. With your bike, you must climb an embankment, climb over two trunks, and then climb back down the embankment.
When traveling counterclockwise, there is a short straightaway leading up to the trees so they can be easily seen. When traveling clockwise, the trees are in a blind curve so you have very little time to react to them.
The wind storm occurred last Friday so the trees probably fell then, which mean they have been there for almost a week. There no warning signs, cones, etc. to give you prior notice of danger. Good to know that the city is concerned about your safety.
When traveling counterclockwise, there is a short straightaway leading up to the trees so they can be easily seen. When traveling clockwise, the trees are in a blind curve so you have very little time to react to them.
The wind storm occurred last Friday so the trees probably fell then, which mean they have been there for almost a week. There no warning signs, cones, etc. to give you prior notice of danger. Good to know that the city is concerned about your safety.
Trail Status
Greenway and trail conditions are great. Still some overflow on the greenway sidewalk and ford and, with more rain coming tomorrow, it will get deeper.
The city is grooming the trail. I know you think I must be imagining it—but its true. Sections of the trail, especially the big dirt hill on the Southside, have had dirt added and graded. I hope this will become a common occurrence.
Trail Status
Greenway and trail are in good condition.
Sand on greenway has been cleared. There is still some overflow at the sidewalk and ford.
Sand on greenway has been cleared. There is still some overflow at the sidewalk and ford.
Trail Status
My first Salem Creek Greenway/Salem Lake Trail loop ride of the new year. My time was a bit slow, partially due to the traffic and the wind, but it will improve as I get in more rides and get the body back into riding condition.
It was a nice day but windy. Lots of foot and bike traffic on the greenway and trail but most people were obeying the rules; there are always the idiots.
The greenway is in good shape but it has loose sand about everywhere. The sand is deep under the Broad Street underpass (be careful it's difficult to see it in the shade) and between the ford and the dam. The sidewalk valley and the ford have some overflow but the area is easily passable. Just past the Reynolds Park Road bridge, one side of the greenway is covered in water for a few feet. The trail is in good shape with no deep ruts. There is a large plywood patch on the deck of the bridge on the north side of the lake,
There is evidence of downed trees everywhere, but the greenway and trail themselves are clear. As usual, sections of the trees blocking the trail were cut out and rolled to side; where they will probably stay forever. It makes the greenway and trail look like a logging operation is taking place. As usual, the city spends a fortune building a showplace marina and then lets the trail deteriorate.
It was a nice day but windy. Lots of foot and bike traffic on the greenway and trail but most people were obeying the rules; there are always the idiots.
The greenway is in good shape but it has loose sand about everywhere. The sand is deep under the Broad Street underpass (be careful it's difficult to see it in the shade) and between the ford and the dam. The sidewalk valley and the ford have some overflow but the area is easily passable. Just past the Reynolds Park Road bridge, one side of the greenway is covered in water for a few feet. The trail is in good shape with no deep ruts. There is a large plywood patch on the deck of the bridge on the north side of the lake,
There is evidence of downed trees everywhere, but the greenway and trail themselves are clear. As usual, sections of the trees blocking the trail were cut out and rolled to side; where they will probably stay forever. It makes the greenway and trail look like a logging operation is taking place. As usual, the city spends a fortune building a showplace marina and then lets the trail deteriorate.
Trail Status
The greenway is clear. Sand has been scraped away and down trees have been removed. Sidewalk valley has some overflow but is passable. Rocks have been added to sides of the sidewalk. Ford has some overflow but is passable.
The trail is clear. It still has some large, water-filled mud puddles. North side of the trail near Linville Road has even more nasty areas to watch out for. Causeway on the south side has lots of large bumps that require staying off the seat; it's like riding whoops or moguls.
Leaves are starting fall on the trail; they hide obstacles and are slippery. Shedding trees cause spotty light patterns on the trail that camouflage obstacles.
The trail is clear. It still has some large, water-filled mud puddles. North side of the trail near Linville Road has even more nasty areas to watch out for. Causeway on the south side has lots of large bumps that require staying off the seat; it's like riding whoops or moguls.
Leaves are starting fall on the trail; they hide obstacles and are slippery. Shedding trees cause spotty light patterns on the trail that camouflage obstacles.
Trail Status
Work was in progress on the greenway today. The pile of rocks at the valley sidewalk has been cleared. Hopefully, the deep sand on the greenway was also cleared.
The annual 30K foot race is this Saturday morning so the trail will be closed until afternoon. The city usually grooms the trail for the race so maybe some of the ruts and holes will be filled.
The annual 30K foot race is this Saturday morning so the trail will be closed until afternoon. The city usually grooms the trail for the race so maybe some of the ruts and holes will be filled.
Trail Status
Everything is passable but be cautious.
Greenway
Greenway
- Clear of fallen trees and limbsTrail
- 2" of sandy mud in places. Can be trickly if not careful.
- Sidewalk valley is flooded but passable.
- Ford has a rapid overflow that is powerful. It's passable if you use care.
- At the west end of sidewalk just before the picnic table, the greenway has two feet of loose rocks piled on it. Unless you have a mountain bike and are a skilled rider you'll need to walk over it.
- The north side is not too bad except for one area at the east east end about 1 mile from Linville Road. Lots of fallen trees have been removed and the trail has some really rough areas.
- The south side is not much different than before the storm.
Trail Status
Salem Creek is still up about 6" from the last few rain storms, so if we get a lot of rain from Florence, it will get nasty.
The greenway has fast-moving overflow in the sidewalk valley and over the ford but the area is still passable. Deep sand at spots on the greenway. Sand on greenway at the sidewalk is nearly up to the picnic table so the weekend flooding was at least that high.
The trail is clear but has water puddles and more deep rutting. A few ruts were so deep I had to hop over them. Sand and deep ruts at bottom of the west side of the big dirt hill make it dangerous; better slow down when descending the hill. All the trees are heavy with leaves and some are leaning way out over the trail so more rain and wind will surely bring them down.
If we get a lot of wind and rain, the greenway and trail may be unusable for a couple of weeks.
The greenway has fast-moving overflow in the sidewalk valley and over the ford but the area is still passable. Deep sand at spots on the greenway. Sand on greenway at the sidewalk is nearly up to the picnic table so the weekend flooding was at least that high.
The trail is clear but has water puddles and more deep rutting. A few ruts were so deep I had to hop over them. Sand and deep ruts at bottom of the west side of the big dirt hill make it dangerous; better slow down when descending the hill. All the trees are heavy with leaves and some are leaning way out over the trail so more rain and wind will surely bring them down.
If we get a lot of wind and rain, the greenway and trail may be unusable for a couple of weeks.
Trial Status
The greenway is normal. The broken section of sidewalk below the dam has been filled in so it not a danger.
The trail is normal. Ruts, rocks, and roots are still there. Ruts are getting worn down so they are not as deep or abrupt. Upturned tree trucks, one on the north side and one on the south side of the lake, have left large holes on the edge of the trail.
The trail is normal. Ruts, rocks, and roots are still there. Ruts are getting worn down so they are not as deep or abrupt. Upturned tree trucks, one on the north side and one on the south side of the lake, have left large holes on the edge of the trail.
Trail Status
The greenway is clear. The bridge in Washington Park has debris stuck in the side rails. Since the rails are over ten feet from the normal surface of the water, this shows how much flooding there was in Salem Creek.
- From Marketplace Mall to Main Street the fallen trees have been cleared but there are patches of deep sand especially under the Broad Street underpass.
- From Main Street to the dam the greenway is clear and scrapped; it's cleaner than before the flooding.
- There is some overflow in the sidewalk valley and at the ford but easily passable. The sidewalk has a section broken off near the ford end.
The trail is clear.
- It has been scrapped in some places but where fallen trees have been removed the trail surface is uneven and tricky.
- The big hill has more rutting on the western side and more sand in the curve at the bottom of the hill.
- There is a tree leaning over the trail at the sharp curve that's between the main parking lot and the short bridge.
- Near the short bridge, an uprooted tree on the edge of the lake left a large hole on the edge of the trail.
