Kirkham AMI Trail in Pocatello closed for construction through the week

POCATELLO, Idaho (KIFI) – The well-loved Kirkham AMI Trail is closed starting Tuesday, October 27 through this weekend for important and extensive upgrades. The construction will fully repave the parking lot as well as the mile-long stretch of pathway extending from the trailhead near Upper Ross Park and the Pocatello Animal Shelter.

The Portneuf Greenway Foundation says these upgrades have been a long time coming, with the old trail getting extremely cracked and bumpy for bike riders. The pavement rehabilitation project is funded in part by the Portneuf Health Trust, a supporter of Greenway. The project will restore smooth, safer travel for the runners and cyclists who use the trail throughout the year.

"We came in and crunched up the existing pavement and left it there as a base," said Dan Harelson, President of the Board of Directors for Greenway. "Then there will be a fresh layer of gravel on top of that, before paving a fresh layer of asphalt. That crunched up asphalt and gravel will kind of insolate the new asphalt so it shouldn't crack as bad."

The original trail was built in 2000 and had begun showing its age. Harelson said they consistently got feedback from trail riders saying the bumps were becoming frustrating as well as the large cracks across the pavement. It became a top priority for rehabilitation.

The contractors, Iron Horse Asphalt, as well as the City of Pocatello and Portneuf Greenway are hoping to reopen the trail by Saturday, October 31. Community members have eagerly awaited upgrades to this trail, and Harelson says they won't be disappointed.

"It's spectacular scenery out here, especially this time of year and through the winter. It's a great place to ride your bike, so please come out and enjoy the new trail next week," he said.

The construction crews are asking for drivers to be aware of the truck traffic in the area throughout the week. They will be hauling in asphalt on the Avenue of the Chiefs down from the animal shelter. People are unable to park in the trailhead parking lot until it reopens next week.