Hamilton County to Complete its Loop

Hamilton County cities Carmel and Fishers recently released plans to build a 14-foot pedestrian/bicycle bridge across White River, filling a half-mile gap in 106th Street. The planned bridge will connect Hazel (Dell) Landing on the Carmel side to Heritage Park at White River on the opposite bank, according to a spokesperson for Carmel Clay Parks and Recreation.

Planned 106th Street Bridge, Carmel-Fishers

Bids for the project are expected to open today, July 20, 2023.  In total, the bridge is expected to be some 500 feet long and connect existing trails in the two parks. On the west side, 106th Street already has a multiuse trail alongside the roadway, ending at Hazel Dell Parkway; which is mirrored by a similar trail on the Fishers side.

Hamilton County officials tout the project as the southern closure of a loop that comprises three rail-to-trail projects: the Midland Trace Trail on the north, Monon on the west, and Nickel Plate on the east. A connection from the Nickel Plate to a continuation of the Midland Trace, which presently ends at Hague Road and Indiana 32, is said to be under construction¹.  In all, connecting the four trails should create a loop of about 28 miles. We recently encountered repaving and other work on the trail along 106th in Carmel; perhaps in anticipation of increased traffic.

Meanwhile, in Marion County, Indianapolis continues to throw public funds at its flagship Cultural Trail. At present, no pedestrian-only crossings of White River are to be found anywhere between White River State Park on the near west side and the Monon trail in Broad Ripple. In the absense of pedestrian bridges, cyclists are forced to brave traffic and the usual assortment of road debris or else ride on the sidewalk on Michigan, New York, 10th, 16th, 29th, 38th, Michigan Road, Kessler, and Meridian. Meanwhile, the city will add another one mile extension of the Cultural Trail, at a cost of $21 million², to the Henry Street Bridge near Lucas Oil Field. That crossing will be about half a mile from the existing pedestrian bridge at White River State Park. Thanks loads, Indy.

¹  "Under construction" is a bit of an overstatement, much like GoogleMaps' oversell of the route of the Nickel Plate, which does NOT pass through downtown Noblesville yet.
² Yes, we know the city's "only" footing about $3 million. 

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