A few obstacles are popping up along the Monon Trail as city workers begin construction in preparation for the installation of bollards designed to keep motor vehicles from causing havoc on the trail. The Department of Public Works project also includes the Pennsy Trail on the city’s Eastside.
Intersections were selected for bollard installation based on an assessment of safety concerns for cyclist and pedestrian users, according to a DPW press release. While trails will remain accessible during foundation work and bollard installation, trail users can expect temporary partial closures as construction efforts continue over the coming weeks.
While work is ongoing to prohibit the illegal use of motor vehicles on trails, drivers should be reminded of their responsibility to follow traffic laws and obey posted signage at trail intersections stating that vehicles are not permitted. If residents witness a driver entering a trail with their vehicle, they are asked to report the incident to IMPD’s non-emergency line by calling 317-327-3811.
“Indianapolis’s trail network is a critical resource for bike and pedestrian travel – which is why we are expanding our trail network by more than 20 miles this year as part of our five-year, $1.1 billion capital infrastructure plan,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “These upcoming bollards will inhibit illegal trail use by motor vehicles at the crossings where safety is of greatest concern.”
Residents can expect to see periodic partial closures of trails at the following crossings as foundation work begins in advance of future bollard installation:
Monon Trail
- 16th Street
- 22nd Street
- Sutherland Avenue
- 42nd Street
- 46th Street
- 49th Street
- 52nd Street
- 54th Street
- 61st Street
- Broad Ripple Avenue
Pennsy Trail
- East side of South Ritter Avenue and Bonna Avenue
- South Audubon Road and Hibben Avenue
- Hibben Avenue and Pennsy Trail
- Arlington Avenue
- Kitley Road
- Shortridge Road
- Old Trails Road
- Franklin Road
- Post Road
- South Bonar Avenue
- Mitthoeffer Road
- German Church Road
DPW officials said the selection of locations for bollard installation along the Monon Trail and Pennsy Trail follows a months-long analysis by DPW Engineering staff of safety concerns across the City’s entire trail network. Bollard installation follows the funding of Indy DPW’s new, dedicated Trail Maintenance crew, focused on keeping the trail network safe and passable for bike and pedestrian users.
“Since the recent widening of the Monon Trail, DPW engineers have been evaluating crossings along the City’s entire trail network for pedestrian safety improvements while considering the need for maintenance accessibility, said DPW Director Brandon Herget. “The intersections selected for bollard installation will provide the greatest safety benefit to trail users,” he continued. “As construction begins, and throughout the entire season, bike and pedestrian travelers should expect partial closures of trails as crews conduct essential work to keep our trail network safe and passable.”
Trail users should expect marked DPW Trail Maintenance vehicles and contractor vehicles to periodically access trails throughout the season to perform critical services such as debris removal, mowing, and brush cutbacks that maintain trail safety. Crews are directed to always leave at least one lane of the trail passable and flag bike and pedestrian traffic around crews as they work.
PHOTO ABOVE: The “No Motor Vehicles” sign has proven to be inadequate to keep such vehicles off the Monon Trail. This intersection at 16th Street is one of the bollard installation sites.
