Portneuf Greenway Foundation starts construction on massive new trail

POCATELLO — The Portneuf Greenway Foundation announced this week that it has started construction on the first stage of the Connecting Communities Path.

The Connecting Communities Path will link the Bannock County Event Center with Pocatello Creek Road. It will be part of a larger trail system that will eventually connect the Portneuf Wellness Complex and Idaho State University.

This stage of the project will connect to an existing path at the Bannock County Event Center and extend to the Interstate 15 right-of-way. From there, the Idaho Transportation Department will build a path to Pocatello Creek Road in late 2024 or early 2025 as part of the I-15/I-86 “Flying Y” interchange project.

According to the news release, the project is being done in cooperation with Bannock County, the Dr. Jason West family and the Idaho Transportation Department.

The project is funded through a combination of fundraising by Portneuf Greenway Foundation and support from Idaho Central Credit Union, Idaho Parks and Recreation, Portneuf Health Trust, Idaho Environmental Coalition and the Ifft Foundation.

The Idaho Transportation Department will fund a portion of the second stage of construction. According to the news release, the greenway foundation is still raising money to pave part of the trail from Pocatello Creek Road to the section that is currently under construction.

Dan Harelson, president of the Portneuf Greenway Foundation, said in the news release that he is thrilled that the trail is now under construction.

“It has been very gratifying to work with our community partners and sponsors to pull this project together,” he said in the news release. “We could not do it without their support.”

According to the news release, the mission of Portneuf Greenway Foundation is to create bike and walking trials throughout the Pocatello/Chubbuck area to enhance the quality of life for residents. Throughout its history, it has constructed about 20 miles of safe, accessible pathways in Pocatello and Chubbuck.