Hefner Dam Road, Trail closed to all pedestrians, motorists

(January 24, 2008) - On days when the sun is shining and the temperature climbs, some citizens may head to a favorite place to walk, bike or fish – the Lake Hefner dam road and trail.  However, recreational activities there, between Old Lakeshore Drive and Britton Road, will be off limits until mid-summer.

Signs and fences are in place to stop all pedestrian and motorist traffic on the dam road and trail.  However, some citizens have found ways to sneak onto to the road and trail.

“For their own safety, we asked that citizens resist the temptation to go around the blockades,” said Debbie Ragan, spokesperson for the City’s Utilities Department.  “Although the dam road may look usable, it’s just not a safe place to be at this time.  The road’s guardrails have been removed and demolition efforts are well under way.”

Early on, the Utilities Department engineers looked for ways to keep the road and trail open while repairing the erosion damage.  They determined the road was too narrow to allow recreational and construction activities to take place at the same time.  Currently, the new rip rap – or large rocks used to prevent erosion  – line the road, waiting to be placed along the inner dam face. This further narrows the road, causing walking and biking activities to be dangerously close to the construction equipment and the outer dam face.  Also, lake patrol police may issue tickets those who access the dam road.

“When the Lake Hefner dam road and trail reopens, citizens will have an even nicer and safer place to recreate,” Ragan said.  “They’ll enjoy the newly paved road and trail and be protected by a new 42-inch cable barrier fence.”

In the meantime, citizens still may enjoy recreating at the south end of Lake Hefner, just not making a full loop around the lake.