Happy-happy, Joy-joy: the Monon's 38th Street Bridge is now open!

New Monon Trail bridge over 38th Street

 I kid you not: even though there are still detour signs on the north approach, you can happily ignore them: the multi-million-dollar Monon Trail bridge over 38th Street is now open. Unlike the 146th Street and IN 32 bridges in Hamilton County, the new bridge features shallow-angle approaches, with a gentle curve at both ends that allows the bridge to cross the street at a right angle. Mayor Hogsett cut a ribbon to open the bridge on Friday, March 12th. No word on whether he was riding his fat-tire bike at the time.

The city also constructed connectors on both ends to provide access to the bridge from sidewalks at street level. 

The $4.6-million project allows trail users to cross a busy, six-lane street without having to dodge traffic on what was arguably one of the scariest road crossings in the city. With the closure of the detour, Marion County's 10-mile portion of the trail is open just in time for summer, although construction at the north split of I-70/I-65 will soon create a long-term detour between 10th and 16th streets. City planners are still deciding whether to reroute the trail permanently as part of the construction.

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