Trail around Metallica singer's land moves ahead

[July 20, 2011]  SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (AP) -- Work is under way on a Northern California hiking trail being built at a cost of more than $650,000 to bypass the home of Metallica front man James Hetfield.

The Marin Independent Journal reports that the 3-mile trail connecting two open space preserves north of San Francisco is set to be finished as early as September.

The new path stems from a 2008 dispute in which Hetfield erected a metal fence blocking a portion of the old trail running through in Marin County land. He complained trail users were damaging his property.

Marin officials say the rocker has been accommodating to the new project, allowing trail builders to use his road for access to the site.

The newspaper says the trail's high cost resulted from environmental reviews, design work, materials and equipment.

[Associated Press]

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