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GOING SOUTHEAST: NEXT SECTION | GOING NORTH: NEARBY TRAIL | 
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DESCRIPTION: Updated 7/07This section, built during the I-670 construction, starts just north of that freeway's interchange with Grandview Ave. The trailhead is on the east side (even through it goes north west) of Grandview above the exit ramp from I-670 west. The trail loops east and south passing under the freeway and all it's ramps and following the north bank of the Scioto and then turns west. The asphalt in this area is not striped. Once the trail passes under the last overpass, it runs in a kind of causeway with water on both sides--although it also shares a part of this with another ramp from the freeway for a brief stretch before sliding westward and into the woods. This section is somewhat wider than the initial piece and is center-line striped.
The trail ends just south of the River's Edge office complex. There are plans to extend this trail section to Fifth Avenue in the near future. In the interim, the brush has been cleared from the trail end and there is access to the complex along a dirt berm and to the parking lot and Dublin Rd down the embankment. Please note: I have no idea what the parking policy for the complex is. As with most offices, it is generally empty on weekends.
The trail is relatively flat all through. The distance, roughly estimated, is about 1.7 miles.
To get from the Confluence/Dublin Rd section to this one via Dublin Rd and Grandview Ave:
The nearest section to this one ends just across Dublin Rd from the Water Works and Twin Rivers Dr. It can be reached by exiting the trailhead off Grandview, going north on that road and then east on Dublin Rd. For runners or walkers, it will be necessary to use the north side of Dublin Rd. as there is no complete sidewalk or path on the south side and the only walkable road clearance is on tthe north. For cyclists, riding on the margins of Dublin Rd in both directions is possible. Traffic is somewhat fast and, during the weekdays, fairly heavy. The road surface is in fair to poor shape but the storm grates are clearly marked. The short distance from the intersection of Grandview and Dublin Rd to the trail head can be ridden on the left (against traffic) side as there is some bail-out room and a partial parallel dirt road.
SCIOTO TRAIL - ODOT SELECTS NEW CONNECTOR ROUTE 6/08
A couple of years ago, ODOT introduced a proposal, or set of proposals with regard to connecting the two extant sections of the Upper Scioto Trail. Several alternatives were given and commentary requested on route preference. The alternatives ranged from finding some on-road solution using either Dublin Rd or Souder and McKinley to different crossings of the large undeveloped property north of I-670. Dave Roseman and Ira Weiss sent over an ODOT announcement (link below) which gives the final choice. Construction, which will involve crossing the Scioto twice on trail bridges, is not set to begin until 2010. Hopefully, the CRPD proposal to extend the Grandview Section as far as 5th Avenue will be in work as well.
The proposal is here: ODOT I670.pdf
The original proposal extracts with explanations is reproduced below:
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| Map | Commentary | Commentary |
The entire original proposal is here:
Scioto Bikeway Handout. Scioto Bikeway Alternatives Discussion
The master plan for the Scioto Greenway Trail is to run from Confluence Park north through the Griggs Reservoir Area and, eventually, to connect with the Hilliard-Heritage Trail and the Dublin community trail system. Additionally, there are plans to bring the Ohio to Erie Trail in from the west to connect to the Upper Scioto at some point in the Grandview area. Given the current focus on other trails, these things will likely be some years away at the least.
To get from the Griggs Reservoir Area from this one via Dublin Rd and Grandview Ave:
Unless cycling in speedy, heavy, dangerous traffic is something you enjoy, I'd suggest getting in the car and going up Dublin Rd. It's a tenth or two over two miles from the RiverView parking exit to the lowest entry (the disk golf area below the reservoir dam) and a tenth or two over three to the main entry at the dam head.
When I first explored this section of trail in 2004, I was on it two or three times over the space of a week walking and photographing. During that time, I didn't see a single person on it. The north-west end was shrouded in heavy brush and was hardly even visible from the office complex. A visit the other day had me passing more than dozen people. The brush has been cleared and access from the RiverView complex is easy. The trail is a stub--something over three miles from one end to the other--a good distance for practicing for a 5k. (A relatively flat 5k since there are only a few easy undulations along it.) When the trail is connected to the lower part of the
06/02/2008