$8.7 million walkway to connect West Terre Haute and Terre Haute along U.S. 150

“This is way beyond what we could imagine. We are so excited about it,” Judy Anderson, president of the Vigo County Board of Commissioners, said about the project which be finished in late 2020.

Federal and state funds would cover more than $7.09 million of the project, and Vigo County would need to cover 20 percent, more than $1.74 million. However, before the project occurs, the Vigo County Council must appropriate funds for the project. 

“It is a project where there has been many, many entities within the county that have tried and tried this,” Anderson said of pushing for a walkway along U.S. 150.

The multi-use path will be constructed of prefabricated, precast concrete boardwalks on a steel frame, resting on concrete pilings on the south side of U.S. 150 (formerly U.S. 40) behind an existing guardrail. It will be 11 feet, 3 inches wide, with 10 feet of clear space for walking/biking.

“This was done as concrete. While more costly up front, it has a longer lifespan, about 50 years,” said Shane Spears, Crawfordsville district deputy commissioner for the Indiana Department of Transportation. 

Design and engineering on the path could start in June and will take just under a year to complete, with a contract letting likely in early January 2020, said Ron Hinsenkamp, executive director of West Central Indiana Economic Development District.

Construction of the trail could start in April or May 2020, Hinsenkamp said, and be finished by late October or November 2020.

“The pathway will be relinquished to Vigo County after construction for ongoing operation and maintenance,” Hiskenkamp said.

Hinsenkamp said the project became feasible as U.S. 150 is part of the designated U.S Bicycle Route 50, which allows INDOT to use federal congestion mitigation and air quality funds to cover 80 percent of the cost.

“It was kind of a solution that came to us out of the blue,” Spears said. “We were in a meeting and one of our central office partners at INDOT said that maybe this was something that can be done with CMAQ funds, so [the development district] ran the technical details to see if it would improve air quality by having a walkway. So that is what got it qualified through us and INDOT.”

While the project has not yet been brought before the Vigo County Council, councilman Bill Thomas said that using county Economic Development Income Tax money is a likely funding source for the county’s match.

“I see folks walking and biking across there and am always hoping and praying no one gets run over,” Thomas said. “This is a dream come true.”

Aaron Loudermilk, Vigo County Council president, added that the project has long been sought by county officials.

“I think it is very important for the people in the west side of county to have this [project],” Loudermilk said. “It is a very dangerous journey across there on foot. I have seen mothers pushing children in strollers before, which is quite dangerous. It is a big deal for our community,” Loudermilk said.

The effort, Vigo County officials said, included Sen. Jon Ford, R-Terre Haute.

“As part of this group, I took their concerns to INDOT and the governor’s office to really push this idea and got positive support all along. INDOT supported the project and was encouraged to be creative. When I do town halls in West Terre Haute, I hear more than anything people wanted a solution,” Ford said of the walkway.

The need for the walkway project includes improving air quality; reducing bike or pedestrian accidents; providing better access to the Wabashiki Fish & Wildlife Area and improving connectivity between West Terre Haute and Terre Haute.

The walkway announcement was a major step for Riverscape of Terre Haute’s vision of the Wabashiki Fish & Wildlife area, said that group’s president, Charlie Williams.

“Not only does this provide for a safe way for daily walkers and cyclists between Terre Haute and West Terre Haute,” Williams said, “it provides the missing link on a 7-mile trail network along the river levee and West Terre Haute levee for recreational purposes, greatly improving our community’s quality of place. This project has been Riverscape’s top advocacy priority for the last five years.”