Nature Path repair slowed by public work’s distractions

SHELLEY – The nature path along the river has been under construction for almost a year. Shelley’s public work’s department is working to repair it.

The city of Shelley tore up the nature path and the land adjacent to it last December to install an irrigation line to their property west of the area.

That construction removed all of the landscaping between the path and Fir Street and removed the path’s surface in two sections. 

Although the nature path has been opened, the two sections of the path have not been paved, nor has the landscaping been reinstalled.    

“The path is not shut down.  You can get on it at the fire station and walk to Bingham County Park.  It’s just two parts of it don’t have asphalt,” Shelley Public Work’s Director Justin Johnson said. “This is the part where the new irrigation line crossed the path.”

The greenbelt area has been torn up all summer long.  The grass along the river has turned brown.  According to Johnson, the trees north of the path have been preserved by city personal going out with the comodo and watering trees. 

“Although it looks like nothing is being done, we are making progress,” Johnson said. “We have laid 3,300 feet of mainline, have put in valves and wiring, and are now starting to install sprinklers.” 

It has been a busy summer for the public work’s department. Their job includes maintaining existing infrastructure, repairing water lines, mowing lawns, fixing streets, and picking up garbage. 

Johnson said, “we are not necessarily in the business of constructing [infrastructure].  We are here to maintain what we have.  And so for us to go out and put this in, it is a big job.” 

Last Spring, public works replaced and enlarged the concrete deck around the pool.  It was a time-consuming project.     

“We are currently maxing out our garbage truck, so I need to throw another guy in a truck for half a day to help Toby to get caught up,” Johnson said. “It has been a busy, busy summer.” 

Johnson believes they can finish the path and landscape the lawn area later this Fall. 

“Before the hot plants close down, we will install the asphalt on the two sections of the path,” Johnson said. “We will level and hydroseed the land between the trail and the street as well.”

The city maintains the path from the fire station to a graveled road just east of the Reservation Canal.  The county maintains the trail from the canal to North Bingham County Historical Park, even though Shelley does mow the weeds along both sides of the path in this section.  

Johnson said, “Next summer, both the city and the county are going to seal coat the entire trail.  It hasn’t been done in more than fifteen years.”