Construction On Bob Jones Trail Connector Officially Breaks Ground At Octagon Barn
Drivers on the south end of San Luis Obispo caught sight today of a groundbreaking ceremony for another section of the Bob Jones Trail project.
This is a day nearly fifty years in the making.
Contractors, city and county leaders, along with the grown daughters of the late Bob Jones gathered at the Octagon Barn in San Luis Obispo.
“This was something my father had a vision for,” says Michele Smith, daughter of Bob Jones. “And he was somebody that could get everybody talking.”
Construction is already underway on a 2-mile stretch, clearly visible from the roadside, especially on Higuera Street.
“The utility work has already begun, which is great progress,” says Stephen Hanamaikai, SLOCOG Transportation Planner. “You know, we need that to go in before we can begin real construction.”
“He’s somebody that opened the world up for me, the natural world,” says Smith. “I’ve always loved animals and fish and protecting our world, and I think it’s really good for kids.”
The long-term vision, which still has some undetermined phases ahead, ultimately seeks to connect the two currently separate segments into a single multi-use recreational path, fully isolated from any vehicular traffic.
“Eventually, you know, the idea is to have that connection fully to Los Osos Valley Road,” says Hanamaikai. “As it is now there’s a pretty good connection with the existing bike lanes. But, you know, we want to complete that vision.”
While jurisdictional coordination is on the horizon for the remaining mile, it will involve right-of-way and property acquisitions as well as other safety determinations.
“We brought as much family as we could to get down here today,” says Smith. “And we’re just really proud of his legacy.”
The connector trail has been highly anticipated for decades, and the project dates back to the early 1990s.
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