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What's
still goin'
on...? -- from the desk of
Mitch Barloga --
Hobart/Oak
Savannah Trail:
Wisconsin to Lake Park Ave. is DONE. From 51 to Linda St. is
nearly done (stoned in), and the city aims to bid out the
balance of the project this fall for a spring 2010 finish. This
will finally connect the OS thru Hobart. There are still major
hurdles with INDOT's planned reconstruction of 130 and 51.
Hammond/Erie-Lackawanna Trail by Cabela's:
The trail has been stoned in along the levee, and the bridge is
scheduled to be the last thing done before winter. As soon
as the Army Corps is done, then the paving can being on the
levee (next spring). Hopefully by fall you will be able to ride
through their via the stone path. INDOT plans to bid out the
project to remove the US 41 bridge adjacent to Wicker Park which
will involve a box culvert from the E-L Trail. This should be
done by next fall.
Merrillville/C&O Trail:
This is
essentially complete - save for the bridge over Turkey Creek.
The limits are from Broadway on the east to roughly Taft on the
west. Still working to get it across the street...we'll see.
Munster/Pennsy
Greenway:
The town
expects to complete two critical segments of the Pennsy which in
effect would render their portion of the network done. This
includes a large, 2 mile segment from Calumet to Main St. along
Centennial Park, and a long-awaited link to Illinois from Fisher
to the State Line. Both of these segments are planned to be
build within the ROW corridor. Completion of both is expected by
late fall of 09.
Gary/OS Trail
Underpass:
This project
is currently under construction with a late 09 completion date.
In the
hopper...
Crown
Point/E-L Trail Extension:
This long-awaited link into the city is
scheduled for a January 2010 bid, with a late-summer completion.
Porter/Brickyard Trail:
There has been a slight hold-up due to an INDOT
requirement for construction at US 20. Looks like a bridge will
be built there,
with an underpass still scheduled for US 12. They are still on
the books for a
Nov. 09 bid opening and a late 2010 finish.
Whiting/Marquette Greenway:
Thanks to a
boatload of RDA monies, this project in on course for a
2010-2011 completion which will involve a new trail from George
Lake, a bridge over Indy Blvd. and terminating at Whiting Park.
On the
horizon...
Porter/Dunes-Kankakee Trail:
Thanks to a
$500K appropriation from Cong. Visclosky, this central Porter
Co. trail is moving right along. The first phase should be
complete by 2011 and will include an off-road trail from the
Dunes State Park to I-94. Further plans have the trail
continuing through Chesterton via Calumet Ave.
Michigan
City/Singing Sands Trail (Ph. 1):
Currently held up due to NIPSCO concerns, but once remedies (any
day now!!!), they will move ahead briskly on connecting the
Calumet Trail to Washington Park.
In other news, there will be nearly
500 new bike racks
installed and 8 lockers throughout the entire NIRPC region
thanks to the first flush of the "Rack em' Up!" program. Members
of C4 will be expected to help inspect the final locations for
compliance.
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