What is gap 55? it’s Rails to Trail’s designation for the trail gap between the end of the MoPac East in Wabash and the Platte River Bridge near South Bend.. The MoPac East Trail Connector Study Group has released it’s preliminary route recommendation. Their final open house will take place Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. at Round The Bend Steakhouse -Ballroom at 30801 E Park Hwy, Ashland, NE 68003. You can see the route in more detail, talk to study group participants, ask questions and give your feedback there. The NRD Board of Directors and the Cass County Commission have yet to vote on the final recommendation, so public input is still important.
At the last open house and in on-line comments, the vast majority of trail users chose Alignment C, which is the shortest, most scenic, and least expensive option. Owing to the problem of the narrow right of way which study group members said would force local farm vehicles to share the space with trail users on two miles of this route, the group chose alignment D.
Alignment D utilizes one more mile of the old MoPac rail corridor which the NRD owns east out of Wabash. It then goes north along the current gravel road route of 334 St. to Kleiser Road, where it turns back west for a mile to 322nd and then north a mile to Kimberly Drive and the trailhead parking lot.
Come give the route designers input about the routes and about what amenities we as trail users need in the area. Water? Camping? Food? What would you like to see? The area is sure to get more use as the route is connected. Currently, Grandpa’s Woods is the closest source of water, drinks, and food to Wabash, and there are bar and grills in Elmwood and Murdock.