Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
I think you have a H&S issue here. You need to think more like road repair gang, you should have formally closed the trail for 3 weeks and done the work in 4 hours on 2 separate Tuesdays....![]()
Seriously, even if you didn't go through formal processes, then a bit of H&S style thinking wouldn't come amiss.
Maybe inform workers not to go onto the path without first checking that it's clear. Also common sense would suggest that if you're going to obstruct the path then some signage is in order. Those simple precautions should prevent workers from (nearly) colliding with users of the path.