Construction has started on the downtown portion of the Saratoga Greenbelt Trail (SGT), a project that will provide an important connection between downtown Saratoga Springs and Wilton.
City of Saratoga Springs officials say the project will help cement the city’s status as a premier recreation and tourism destination.
Construction is expected to be completed by the fall. The portion of the trail in front of High Rock Park will be completed by the end of the May in an effort to cause the least disruption to the public’s use of the park, officials said.
“We are thrilled to announce the addition of more bike paths in our city,” said Mayor Ron Kim. “The city, and in particular Tina Carton, administrator of Parks, Open Lands, Historic Preservation, and Sustainability, has worked hard over the past few years to make this happen. It is a testament to this hard work that this project has the enthusiastic support of so many in our community, including Sustainable Saratoga, Bikeatoga, and the Saratoga Farmers’ Market.
“Getting this trail done on an expedited schedule and with minimal disruption to the neighborhood, including our Farmers’ Market, has been a priority of my office.”
The 10-foot-wide, shared-use, ADA-accessible paved path along High Rock and Excelsior Avenue will extend from the intersection of Lake and High Rock avenues to the existing Northway Exit 15 trail end on Excelsior Avenue.
The project will also construct missing segments of sidewalk on the south side of the streets to create a continuous sidewalk network.
The city will be replacing 49 existing trees with 62 healthy trees better suited for the local environment.
Parking on High Rock Avenue will be restricted during construction.
The construction is supported by grant funding from the state Department of Transportation, the Department of Environmental Conservation Climate Smart Communities Environmental Protection Fund.
For additional information, visit www.saratoga-springs.org/2425/Saratoga-Greenbelt-Trail or contact the city Planning Department at 518-578-3550, ext. 2534.