Baxter weighs $180,000 cost for new pedestrian path

A potential pedestrian trail along Clearwater Road carries an estimated price tag of $150,000 to $180,000, according to city engineering data presented to the Baxter City Council on Oct. 20. The range reflects variables related to utility conflicts and easements, as identified by Alex Bitter, a consulting engineer with Widseth.

The proposal appeared in the draft feasibility report for the city’s 2027 street pavement and reclamation projects. The council reviewed the document during a workshop session held prior to its regular meeting. The Utilities Commission recommended including a separated trail in the project study to address safety concerns on the roadway.

Mayor Darrel Olson noted that the city owns the cost of the Clearwater Road trail entirely. Trevor Walter, the public works director and city engineer, confirmed that the project would not be assessed to private property owners. This distinction matters because Good Samaritan Society owns the property along the route, which includes borders with Golf Course Drive and Cypress Drive. Olson stated that the organization faces substantial assessment costs from other street work in the area, making it preferable to keep the trail cost separate.

Residents have pushed for the project, citing traffic volumes and the proximity of the Whipple Beach recreational area. Duane Ruona, a resident of Country Club Estates, attended the meeting with two others to support the plan. Ruona currently walks on the grass to avoid vehicles on Clearwater Road, a practice he expects will become more necessary when detour traffic increases for the Highway 371 overpass project.

Council member Patrick Sundberg asked if the trail could extend along Edgewood Drive. Olson explained that space is limited in that area due to previous highway expansion projects. However, a separate bike path connecting Novotny Road to Woida Road is scheduled for completion by July 1, 2027. Sundberg suggested that this new connection might increase pedestrian traffic in the Clearwater area.

The council reached a consensus to keep the trail in the feasibility study. Olson said the location serves as a safety measure regardless of the final placement of the planned highway bridge.