JACKSON, Wyo. — The stretch of bike path through Russ Garaman Park is getting a safety upgrade this spring, and construction is slated to begin the first week of April.
According to the Town of Jackson (TOJ), the contractor plans to start work on a series of safety improvements the week of April 6, which will close access to the park and pathway. On March 16, Town Council approved the award of a contract to Aardvark Excavating in Teton County, Idaho, for the project near Flat Creek and Crabtree Lane. The project is expected to wrap up in the middle of May, barring any weather or construction delays.
TOJ’s Director of External Affairs Susan Scarlata told Buckrail in an email that the Teton County/Jackson Parks and Recreation Department will work with local pathway agencies to establish detours and signage during the park’s closure. The Josie’s Ridge hiking trail will remain closed until May 1 due to winter wildlife restrictions. After that point, access to Josie’s Ridge is expected to open, though the park will likely remain closed to traffic until the pathway work is complete.
“Over the past several years, the Jackson Hole community has experienced a significant increase in e-bike use on the community pathway system, raising concerns about the impacts of e-bikes and other fast-moving users on overall pathway safety,” the Town Council staff report reads.
The planned safety improvements have been designed to naturally slow down traffic through the park. A private donation from the Garaman family’s charitable foundation will fully fund construction on the new features, which include a roundabout, chicane gates, rumble strips and colored pavement. Chicane gate fencing creates an S-turn for cyclists to ride through, inevitably reducing speed. Buckrail will continue to update the community on closures and detours.
