The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will close a section of the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail (LOST) near Okeechobee as part of rehabilitation activities on the Herbert Hoover Dike surrounding the lake.
The Corps will close about 3 miles of the trail between Taylor Creek and Nubbin Slough. The closures are necessary for public safety while work on the replacement of a nearby water control structure (Culvert 8) takes place. The trail is expected to be closed in this location from Monday (April 27) until mid-May.
“The rehabilitation of the dike is important to the safety of people living and working in south Florida,” said Tim Willadsen, Herbert Hoover Dike rehabilitation project manager. “We want to keep people out of harm’s way to ensure safety of those using the trail and equipment operators working on the dike.”
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.
In addition to this closure, the trail remains closed between Lakeport and South Bay on the southwest side of the lake, between Belle Glade and Pahokee on the southeast side, and between Canal Point and Port Mayaca on the east side.
More information on the Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail and a map of current closures can be found at the following website:
http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Recreation/LakeOkeechobeeScenicTrail.aspx
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Release no. 15-049