Northeast resident Dan Miller expects a new bike trail to be unveiled later this year on the BNSF bridge connecting NE 18th Avenue to 26th Avenue N on the other side of the river. It would bridge a gap that is much needed for bikers and pedestrians who want to travel between Northeast and North Minneapolis. That’s if BNSF would play along.
In the July 2-PAC (2nd Precinct Advisory Council) meeting via Zoom, Miller revealed updates on the Great Northern Greenway.
“The current bridges for bikes and pedestrians, the Lowry and the Broadway bridges, are over a mile apart, but a little-used BNSF railroad bridge lies between the two. With the Great Northern Greenway Overlook scheduled to open soon on the west side of the river, residents need access from both sides of the river so we can all enjoy this stunning overlook,” explained Miller.
The Great Northern Greenway Task Force has been pushing to finish the trail since 2017, continuing efforts started by the Minneapolis Riverfront Partnership and many other volunteers and organizations over the past 20 years.
“It’s 4.6 miles from the Diagonal Trail in the Quarry to Theodore Wirth, and this Great Northern Greenway spans nine neighborhoods with a lot to offer, featuring art locations such as Casket Arts and the riverfront near the Broadway bridge. I want to create an identity and knowledge of how easy it is to connect all these neighborhoods … with beauty along the way,” Miller said.
Several amenities have been installed along 18th Ave NE and some are ready for use:
• Installed or in process: The 18th Avenue NE shared trail is being improved between Stinson and Johnson, including intersection improvements at Johnson, to the Post Office entrance, at Arthur Street, and at Stinson. Nice Ride stations are located at 18th and Monroe, 22nd and California, and 22nd and Central.
• Missing, scheduled: There is a trail gap between Marshall and California. Work is scheduled for 2022 which will replace the 16th Avenue detour. This connects the trail to the East Bank Trail along the river, and to the future bridge crossing.
• Missing, not scheduled: There is a trail gap on Washington between the Monroe and 18th Ave NE intersection. Two routes have been studied. One uses 18th Avenue NE between Washington and Jefferson to Monroe. Another is a tunnel under the railroad tracks, which would create a direct connection. Some of the gaps are “challenging,” so some people call the 18th Avenue trek, the “Trek to Nowhere.”
There is a 14-ft. right-of-way between the center catwalk and the bridge railing. The next step would be a feasibility study to consider acquisition, shared bridge use or a cantilevered crossing. However, Courtney Wallace, director of external communications for BNSF, emailed, “This is an active railroad bridge and there are no plans to allow other uses on it.”
A ride along the trail
The trail is very alluring, starting off at the Diagonal Trail. Once you get past the bustling Quarry Shopping Center, it’s a quiet ride progressing along the Northeast Park neighborhood. Advancing into Logan Park gives riders an opportunity to see a lot of green trees and feel a sense of the neighborhood. There are a few turns in the path before getting into the Holland neighborhood on 18th Avenue NE, which is a straight shot going across University Avenue and into the Bottineau neighborhood. Passing by all the homes and seeing different eras of these homes is one valid reason to explore this biking trail.
The scenic views along the Sheridan portion of the trail will give riders and pedestrians reason to come back. The vantage points from the BNSF bridge near 18th Avenue NE include the downtown skyline and a straight-on view of the Lowry Bridge.
After crossing the bridge and navigating up to 26th Avenue N, a straight path leads all the way up to Theodore Wirth Parkway. There’s an incline on the path shortly after crossing the river until passing Farview Park. Beyond that stretch, it’s a mostly level path going through the Hawthorne and Jordan neighborhoods until reaching the scenic Theodore Wirth Parkway.
Exploring the trail has its bouts of hills to climb once crossing over the Mississippi river into the North side, but the Northeast side is overall more level, with more twists and turns. It’s a very scenic route that is only going to improve over time.
Editor’s note: Construction on the 26th Avenue overlook on the west side of the Mississippi River began earlier this summer. The grate pathway pictured above is for railroad employees performing their duties.
Below: Great Northern Greenway route shown in provided graphic. While railroad officials say it’s dangerous and no one but their staff should be on the bridge, there are no barriers. (Photo by Nik Linde)