The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reopened a 3-mile section of the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail between Taylor Creek and Nubbin Slough on the north end of the lake, as rehabilitation continues on the Herbert Hoover Dike, the earthen structure surrounding the lake.
Other portions of the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail remain closed, including Port Mayaca to Canal Point, Pahokee to Torry Island, South Bay to Clewiston, Liberty Point to Moore Haven, and Moore Haven to Lakeport. The closures are necessary for public safety while work on the replacement of water control structures takes place. The trail is scheduled to be closed in some of these locations through 2019.
“The rehabilitation of Herbert Hoover Dike is important to the safety of people living and working in south Florida,” said Steve Dunham, chief of the Corps’ South Florida Operations Office in Clewiston. “The safety of people walking the trail is important to us as well and we want to keep them out of harm’s way, given the amount of equipment that will be in the area.”
Contractors are using heavy construction vehicles and large equipment within all of these areas and any additional traffic on the narrow trail or dike crest poses a safety hazard for recreationists and equipment operators.
Additional information on the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail and a map of current closures can be viewed at: http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Recreation/LakeOkeechobeeScenicTrail.aspx
Release no. 14-068