During the May 13 Park Board meeting, the Board approved a contract with Rundell Ernstberger Associates (REA) for design services for the Big-Four Rail Trail south extension and trailhead. Services include: surveying, bridge structural assessments, preparation of all design and construction documents, permitting and construction bidding.
The project includes widening and paving the existing Rail Trail pathway from the end of the paved trail section just north of the Starkey Avenue Bridge to the south end of the Rail Trail Bridge over Eagle Creek (100’ Bridge). The project also includes a new paved path from the south end of the 100’ Bridge to the existing paved path in the Vonterra subdivision.
As an optional addition, the Park Board is considering the design and development of a trailhead at Zionsville Road (as shown on the Zionsville 5-Year Parks Master Plan). The trailhead would include restrooms, parking and trail connections to the new extension of the Big-4 Rail Trail.
“This improvement and extension of our beloved Big-4 Rail Trail will provide connections for pedestrians, runners and cyclists between Zionsville Road, the planned Overley-Worman Park, the existing Big-4 Rail Trail and the Village. And it will feature crossing the iconic 100’ Bridge,” said Zionsville Park Board President Tim Casady.
The anticipated timeline for the design and implementation of the Rail Trail improvements includes design and permitting completion in 2020 followed by construction in late 2020 to mid 2021. The estimated construction cost prepared as part of the Master Plan is approximately $585,000 for the Big-4 Rail Trail south extension and $636,000 for the Zionsville Road trailhead, plus any required land acquisition costs or necessary bridge repair costs.
