Overview
Parks and Recreation has received Federal and local match funding for the reconstruction of the Sam Morgan Trail between Elway and Randolph and Lower Landing and Highway 10-61. The project will include trail reconstruction, development of trail nodes in Lower Landing, and installation of site amenities such as lighting, benches, bike racks, and litter receptacles.
Design will take place throughout 2023 with construction to begin in Spring 2024 with a more detailed schedule to follow.
Project Updates
July 18, 2025
Work on the section of trail between 35E and Otto is nearing completion. The final course of bituminous is anticipated to be placed July 28/29. Work after that will include seeding, signage, lighting, and fencing.
Work on the section of trail between Otto and Randolph is on a similar schedule with the bituminous base course being placed early next week followed immediately by the wear course before the end of the week. Seeding, signage, and lighting will installed after that. There is a fair amount of painting of the railings on this section of trail which will be completed starting the week of August 4th.
The final phase of preparing the aggregate base will be completed early next week. The base course of bituminous may be placed the week of July 28th.
Our contractor will be starting their work on the section of trail between Fish Hatchery Road and Highway 10-61 the week of July 21.
May 23, 2025
Hydroseeding and temporary fence are currently being installed and by the end of the day today, Friday, May 23, 2025, the trail connection across the Mississippi River will be reestablished.
May 16, 2025
Work continues at the intersection of 35E and Shepard Road. We are on track to reopen the trail at this intersection by Friday May 23rd reestablishing the connection between St. Paul and the communities to the south of the river. Our contractor continues to make progress to the east toward Randolph. The pavement has been removed and earthwork underway.
April 14, 2025
The trail connection between 35E (through the tunnel) to Lexington Parkway will reopen by the end of May. Attached is an updated graphic noting the revised schedule. The detour between Lexington and Randolph will remain in place through August while Sam Morgan Regional Trail Segment 1 is reconstructed.
March 20, 2025
The Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department has awarded the Samuel H. Morgan Regional Trail project between Lexington Parkway and Randolph and Lower Landing and Highway 10/61! Erosion control will be installed between Lexington Parkway and Randolph Ave over the next week. Select and necessary tree removal will begin March 26th consisting of low quality trees that impede the existing trail. New trees will be included with the project. To accommodate pedestrian and cyclist travel, a temporary pedestrian detour route will be posted. Please see attached for project location and detour route.
October 29, 2024
The Sam Morgan Regional Trail project has been advertised for bids with a bid opening on Thursday November 7, 2024. We anticipate having a contractor on board to undertake some preliminary work yet this fall. The majority of the trail construction will occur in spring and summer 2025.
March 21, 2024
Portions of Sam Morgan Regional Trail (between 35E and Randolph and Lower Landing and Highway 10/61) will be closed for select tree removal. The select tree removal is in preparation of reconstruction of the trail this summer and consists of low quality trees that impede the existing trail.
October 13, 2023
The design team have prepared a 60% set of plans and are on track for an early 2024 bid for Summer construction. Last week, the design team shared a pdf project update presentation with the City of St. Paul Transportation Committee.
July 25, 2023
Preliminary plans have been completed for the trail reconstruction.
May 30, 2023
A consulting engineer has been hired to design, prepare construction documents, and manage construction of the trail improvements. We are beginning by collecting any background drawings that may be helpful to understanding the current conditions and collecting soil borings which will help the team understand what will be necessary to design the improvements. A more detailed schedule will follow including dates for community review and comment.
