A popular trail running through Dakota County, Minnesota along the Mississippi River is getting a major overhaul, as the county moves to address years of wear, flood damage, and growing ecological concerns along one of the Twin Cities metro's most-used greenways.

The Mississippi River Greenway Trail connects communities along Dakota County's eastern edge, from South St. Paul through Inver Grove Heights down to Hastings. Like much of the Twin Cities regional trail network, large portions were built in the 1990s and 2000s and are now reaching the end of their design life. Asphalt trails in Minnesota's climate typically need major work every 15 to 25 years, and the river corridor accelerates that timeline. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles, bank erosion, and increasingly severe Mississippi flooding have taken a particular toll on infrastructure in the floodplain.

The reconstruction is more than a repaving job. The county's plans incorporate ecosystem health elements, likely including bank stabilization, stormwater management, and native plantings. That approach reflects both the ecological sensitivity of the Mississippi River corridor, which falls under National Park Service oversight and Minnesota's updated Critical Area rules, and a broader policy direction in Dakota County's parks planning that ties trail maintenance to habitat and water quality goals.

Trail use in the metro has also surged. The region saw 30 to 50 percent jumps in trail traffic during the pandemic, and usage has stayed elevated. Dakota County manages more than 100 miles of trails across a county of roughly 440,000 residents, and keeping that system in shape has become an increasingly expensive proposition.

The county has posted the Mississippi River Greenway Trail Reconstruction project and is now selecting a contractor to carry out the work. No construction timeline or total project cost has been publicly disclosed in the solicitation, leaving the full scope and schedule to be confirmed as the project advances.