Trail Construction

This website is sort of a repository for construction information of an ongoing nature. Some of it may have been superseded or not directly impact trail use. FOR CURRENT TRAIL CONSTRUCTION AND DETOUR OR BYPASS INFO CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW -

I hadn't had a chance to get back to Battelle-Darby Metropark since mid-summer but I was in the area the other day and drove past the trail extension north from the Cedar Ridge picnic area. The area off the access road appeared to still be under construction. I didn't walk the trail (the project is described in detail below.) so I don't know if there was any work done further north.

I had a note up earlier this year for some months based on a note from Andy Hall on work being done on the Worthington section of the Olentangy Trail. I hadn't been on that section since early in the year but a workout today revealed that the fence railings appear to have all been replaced all along the route. This includes the railings on the short bridges (3). The trail was, unfortunately, subject to a great deal of flooding because of the recent rains in a few spots.

I noticed that there was some brush clearing along the Blacklick on the south side of Winchester Pike this past summer. I asked at one of the trail meetings whether this was part of a trail project and was told that it was. I drove by a few times but didn't notice any particular activity so I made a mental note to check it out later in the year. A few weeks ago, there was a story in the Dispatch about some homeowners who were complaining about brush clearing along the river by power companies and the map in the paper was so broadly drawn that it looked as though the area I had looked at earlier might be a part of that project.

So I was somewhat surprised to drive by today (1/26) and find paved and marked trail. The entry is just off Winchester at Ebright Rd on the west side of the latter. The length is something around a half mile with a bridge over the Blacklick. I would assume that this section will link with the dead-end in Three Creeks once the bridge over US 33 is completed. For the moment, the other side can be reached by continuing on Ebright, over the road, turning right on Bixby Rd and right on Hamilton Rd and immediately right onto Old Bixby Rd (closed to through traffic) where there is an access dirt track to the Blacklick Trail on the left side.

There are plans to shift Shannon Rd to allow the trail to pass on the north side from its current dead end a half mile from Winchester Pike, under that roadway and to hookup with this new section of trail. I've annotated the trail section and the aerial maps to reflect the new trail. US 33 Crossing

Some excerpts from the 2008 Budget (available on the Metro Parks website as a pdf file:

"This will be a major focus of the 2008 CIP. In 2007 Whittier Street was relocated, the boat ramp area renovation project was completed and soil contamination/wetland development issues were addressed in the northern tier.

Park staff established themselves on the peninsula on a regular basis and improvements were seen in safety and law enforcement. By the end of 2007 we hope to have a contract in place to complete demolition of the remainder of the Lazarus Warehouse and various Columbus Recreation and Parks Department structures. In 2008, we will be working on site development for the Grange Insurance Audubon Nature Center, construction of a major parking lot to serve the nature center and the park, development of park facilities and trails (including relocation of the [Scioto] bike trail), and other activities."

Blacklick Creek Greenway.

Several phases of the Blacklick Greenway project will be addressed using 2008 CIP Funds. These phases involve extensive coordination with other agencies and, due to complications in the design and planning processes, some were carried over from 2007. Phase 7 involves the relocation of Shannon Road. The relocation must be approved by both the City of Columbus and Franklin County. Phase 9 involves the portion of the trail that proceeds south from Blacklick Woods under I-70 to Tussing Road and thus involves ODOT, Fairfield County, and the City of Columbus. The US 33 bridge is a major undertaking that involves complex design issues as well as the purchase of land. It is anticipated that all of these projects will be underway in the first half of the year and that the Blacklick Greenway Trail will connect Blacklick, Pickerington Ponds, and Three Creeks by 2009. Phase 10 will connect the trail between where Phase 9 ends (Tussing Road) and Portman Park where the current trail terminates. Coordination is required with the City of Columbus regarding the alignment of the trail and possible upgrades in road and bridges in the area.

Rawn Property Planning—Pickerington Ponds. Funds will be used to develop a site plan and conceptual design for the usage of the recently purchased Rawn Property with a focus on developing a major public access off of Gender Road and trail extensions. (Access to or part of the Blacklick Trail)

We will continue our efforts to extend the Darby Creek Greenway between Prairie Oaks and Battelle Darby. These funds will provide financial resources for our roving crew to buy materials and rent equipment. Primary focuses will be on the portion of the trail heading south from Prairie Oaks (does not include an underpass under I-70 which is still being designed), completing road crossings in the area of Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park and continuing where the project leaves off in 2007 in the Darby Dan Farm area.

The trail intersections at Petzinger Road and Livingston Avenue need to be completed and improved from a safety perspective.

A strong demand exists to provide a pedestrian connection from Hyland-Croy Road paralleling the main entrance road. This would provide a connection to the local elementary school that is used for overflow parking during special events. In addition, an opportunity is present to extend our trail system in the middle section of the park in association with the development of a neighboring property (Ciotola). This trail section will provide access for a number of people and will provide an additional opportunity for park visitors interested in a different trail experience.

Currently, the Chipmunk Chatter Trail terminates at the parking lot turnaround and maintenance center drive, creating a very congested situation. Bicyclists and joggers then utilize the parking lot to get to Hempstead Road and Westerville’s bike trail system. With the increased visitation to Inniswood, this situation creates the possibility of accidents in the parking lot. This trail would eliminate the need to go through the parking lot and would provide access to the southern portions of our property at Inniswood.

Camp Chase Railroad Planning/Design. OHIO TO ERIE TRAIL Connecting Scioto Trail to Points South/West (London, Dayton (Miami Trails) Cincinnati).

Negotiations continue on developing a trail along the Camp Chase Railroad. These funds would be used to develop detailed plans and designs of the trail and to prepare for construction in future years.

3. (General Improvements)

Resurface, Seal and Stripe Trails. This is a new initiative and recognizes the investment we have made in paved trails throughout Metro Parks in the past several years. These funds will allow us to keep these trails in excellent condition, precluding the need for major replacements in future years.

Just a couple of pictures showing the installations of the uniform new trail signing package which was put into place along the Alum Creek Trail between I-270 and Easton Way this past year. The signing is also in place on the southern section in the area south of Nelson Park.

The signing is designed not only to provide guidance for users on the trail with directional and informational signs but also to identify the trail as it passes through the community. The sign package is generated through MORPC but installation is up to the individual jurisdictions through which the trails pass. Hopefully we will see more signs up in the coming year.

David Roseman sends along a note regarding an article in one of the This Week Suburban Newspapers. It mentions a couple of trail projects related to the Genoa Trail.

· Approved two resolutions regarding engineering for the township's bike trail connectivity project. The first appropriated $8,800 to Stantec Consulting Services (formerly R.D. Zande) of Columbus for engineering services on the Africa Road trail connection. The second appropriated $3,100 to Floyd Browne for engineering services on the Mount Royal to Old 3C Highway trail connection project. Both projects are in the county engineering right of way. County engineer Chris Bauserman said he will approve the plans. Township administrator Paul Wise said that the money for the engineering "comes from a grant from Epcon that was earmarked for the trail connectivity project" several years ago.

Anyone who crosses the Olentangy upstream from the OSU campus cannot but help marvel at how the otherwise compact and fast moving river rather picturesquely widens and slows as it passes the campus area. Unfortunately, that panorama comes at a price in terms of the natural ecology of the area. The original damming was not done for scenic purposes, it was necessary for a campus power station which has long been out of use. Recently, the Army Corps of Engineers completed a study of removing the low-head dam at 5th Avenue in order to restore the natural flow of the river. The project appears to be going forward, perhaps this year. This may have an impact on the trail in the area around the dam depending on the amount of construction required. It most certainly will impact the view along that stretch of trail. More information can be found here: http://www.friendsofalumcreek.org/sitev2/lowheaddamremoval.html and here: http://www.olentangywatershed.org/

David Roseman sends along a couple of e-mails which outline some future bridge projects which will improve trail travel over the next few years.

A long-standing plan to reengineer the Henderson Rd south-side walkway is scheduled for construction in 2008. This is an important improvement which will eliminate the most significant bottle-neck on the busiest trail in Ohio. The current walkway is narrow, uneven and, though guarded by a chain-link fence on the road side, still subject the the nearness of heavy, speeding traffic. Currently users must alternate crossing as there isn't sufficient room for two joggers or cyclists to pass. The new walkway will be wider and safer. Although it won't be addressed in this go-around, the sharp rise and tight-turnaround to cross Henderson on the west side may be reworked later. Information is somewhat limited at this time but public meetings will be held early in the year and the current plan has a detour which will allow for ongoing trail use during construction.

The current northern terminus of the Alum Creek Trail is at West Main Street in Westerville. By a little portage using West Main St and a signalized crossing, users can continue north through Heritage Park, pass under Cleveland Avenue to the Sports Parks with its asphalt loop trail, or continue north on the east side Cleveland Avenue walkway to Polaris Parkway and, from there, east to the Genoa Trail (the route being a portion of the Ohio-to-Erie Trail)

There is now a proposal to replace the W. Main Bridge. The new bridge would include trail underpasses. This upgrade would allow the trail to run under W.Main and directly into Heritage Park. The would eliminate the need to exit the trail and cross W Main St. Additionally, there has been some recent work on the uncompleted section in Sports Park which would link the completed underpass trail north of County Line Rd to the completed trail end at Polaris Parkway--which would allow continuous off-road trail travel from the current end at W Main to the trail paralleling Polaris Parkway and linking with the Genoa Trail.

Another trail point will be addressed when, in a few years, the Main St bridge over the Alum Creek is replaced. Currently, users must use a nearby signalized intersection at Alum Creek Dr to cross this very busy artery. The bridge replacement will allow for a trail underpass and continuous travel. Once in place, trail users will be able to go from Airport Rd near Ohio Dominican University to Three Creeks Metropark near Groveport and Obetz with just three signalized road crossings - at 5th Avenue, Livingston Ave and at Petzinger Rd. (For a note on the last road, see next note) and one side street walkways crossing (Clifton Ave.)

ALUM CREEK LIVINGSTON to THREE CREEKS

UPDATE: 9/5/07 - David Roseman passed along some information from Steve Studenmund, of FC Metroparks. The trail is open for use through the recently completed area. There is still some trail striping to be done south of Petzinger.

The only remaining project along this route is the reconfiguration of the intersection of Petzinger Rd and US 33 (College Ave) where the new trail crosses along the west side. Currently, Petzinger has continuous right turn lanes and high, uncut curb calming islands which make crossing directly a little problematic.

The intersection has been redesigned and the matter rests currently with the City of Columbus. Reconstruction may begin later this fall.

Some pictures from the detail work going on along this section. Bear in mind that it is still going on and that it may occasionally block or limit trail use for the next few days. (Also from David R.)

The new bridge across the Alum Creek at Clifton Ave (south of Nelson Park) is officially open with a great new crossing path. Some pictures below (courtesy of Dave Roseman)

During the Stakeholders Meeting, I had the chance to chat with John O'Meara, of Metroparks with regard to some projects including the cross of US33. The work going on on the west side of Winchester Rd. is, in fact, trail construction. They are negotiating with a local landholder to move Shannon Rd. so as to allow the trail to pass on the north side and under Winchester Pike. They will make use of the Ebright auto bridge until the planned separate trail bridge is built in the next year or two.

Update 8/4/07: I was by the Ebright bridge on Saturday and the approaches and bridge had been paved. There looked to be some more paving work on the bridge itself and railing and things on the approaches. For more go here

He also mentioned that construction was underway on the trail extension in Battelle-Darby Metropark north from the Cedar Ridge area. For more go here

From Steve Studenmund, Strategic Planning Manager for Columbus and Franklin Country Metro Parks, via David Roseman.The following is the most current news on the construction of the trail south of Livingston Rd to Three Creeks Metropark

"We have been granted permission by ODOT to resume construction on the trail south of Petzinger Road. The barrel site clean-up by USEPA is waiting approval from the Feds. If approved, the site will be cleaned up some time in March and then hopefully ODOT will allow Metro Parks to complete the section from Petzinger to north of I-70 this spring."

This is, of course, great news. As for the first section mentioned, I would assume that construction will resume as the weather improves. The majority of asphalt trail is already down. The two major projects would appear to be the completion of the retaining wall just south of the RR bridge below Petzinger and the trail underpass of SR104. The former is well along. The latter has yet to be started. The part still being held up already has the major construction piece, the trail bridge, in place. As for the intersection at Petzinger, see the next item, also passed along from David R. With any luck, by the end of the summer or in early fall, we'll be able to travel from Nelson Park all the way to Three Creeks Park on dedicated trail.

I've expanded the OTE page a bit with pictures, courtesy of David Roseman, of the connector under construction from Maxtown Rd to the Genoa Trail. You can find that here: The Ohio To Erie Trail

At the last MORPC Greenways meeting, there was discussion on how the OTE will link to the local system. The original plan was to obtain an easement along the Camp Chase railroad from the current terminus of the Prairie Grass Trail near London for the proposed Camp Chase Trail which would have come into Franklin County and joined the Upper Scioto Trail near Grandview.

Information on the OTE website indicates that some portion of the Camp Chase Trail proposal is back on the table. How this will impact the routing of the trail into Columbus will depend on how this develops.

SUMMARY OF GENERAL TRAIL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS: OCTOBER 2006

I had the opportunity to attend a portion of the recent Central Ohio Greenway and Trail Forum in Westerville. It was an interesting and informative morning and I heard a lot about existing and future trail projects. More on that when I get a chance to write up my notes. In the meantime, a sort of catch-all update. The specifics have either been incorporated into the trail section pages or collected on the Trail Construction page. Thanks to Brad Westall, Erin Miller and the other folks at the forum for all their information and, especially, their hard work in making the trails happen.

1. REPLACEMENT OF MAIN ST BRIDGE is in progress. Construction will block West Bank Trail between Dodge Park and COSI. Impact will vary over the next three years. Although most of the heavy equipment is being staged on the west side of the river, removal and construction will also impact the Scioto in the area of Bicentennial Park. Town St. Bridge is also slated for replacement but this is not to occur for a while yet.
2. WHITTIER METROPARK construction is in progress. Will involve removal and relocation of current trail route at some point during the next few years.

ALUM CREEK GREENWAY:

1. THE EASTON TO OHIO DOMINICAN section, which would complete the Alum Creek Trail is being planned for 2008 completion. One of the significant issues is working out the issues with trails and golf course adjacencies. (Aka how to keep folks from getting bonked on the head by an errant Titleist.)

FUTURE TRAIL: MORPC FUNDING PROPOSAL

The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission has released their Transportation project funding proposals for the fiscal years 2008-2013. This includes a number of items of interest to those of us who use the bikepaths, bikeways, multi-use trails, pedestrian paths and so on. There is a comment period which runs through the 12th of January. More information can be found here:

BLACKLICK CREEK: The vital link between the current western section which dead ends on that side of US33 north of Three Creeks Metropark and the newer section which was recently extended west from Portman Park to Shannon Rd is represented by three funding requests that involve extension of the trail east to US33, a bike-pedestrian bridge over that roadway, and the extension of the trail along Ebright to Winchester Pike and from there to Shannon Rd.

SCIOTO TRAIL: There are proposals for an extension of the current northern segment (Grandview) from its current dead-end at the River's Edge complex north to 5th avenue and a bridge crossing of the Scioto from the middle of this segment to Harper/McKinley Rds which would provide access to the trail from areas south of I-670 and the river.

ALUM CREEK TRAIL: There is a proposal to replace the Main St. Bridge over the Alum Creek. Below road and at-grade trail paths would be built. This would eliminate the current need to exit the trail and cross at the Main Street/Alum Creek Dr intersection. (And would eventually mean that you could get from Airport Rd in Columbus to Pickerington Ponds Metropark--about 18 miles by crossing just five roads--Greenway/Clifton Rd south of Nelson Park; Livingston (signalized); Petzinger (signalized); Winchester Pike (will be signalized) and Abbey Lakes (moderate trafficked country road.)

Additionally, the majority of road projects--whether widening, signalization, upgrading etc. involve adding bike paths, lanes, pedestrian facilities or accommodations for future additions of same. Also there are individual community trail projects which will enhance the community trails and will probably connect, at some point, with the larger trail system.

ALUM CREEK TRAIL: A road project that would widen and upgrade Sunbury Rd from Airport Rd to Morse Rd with the addition of a 4.5 mile dedicated bike path. This would, at one fell swoop, connect the current trails ends at Easton and Ohio Dominican and apparently complete the Alum Creek Trail (save for the currently stalled construction on the section between I-70. and Three Creek Metropark.) As I know that the CPRD is working on that trail connection via a different routing, this would represent something of a bypass of that plan. I can't say that I don't think that Sunbury needs the upgrade. It is a narrow, twisty, rolling road along most of that length with blind hills and curves that currently make biking a rather dangerous proposition. I wonder that bike path grade standards could be maintained in a couple of places with a road-adjacent trail.

SCIOTO TRAIL: A trail bridge project that would connect the river/freeway-locked section between Third Ave and Spring St with Goodale St via a retrofit bridge and ramp. This would provide access to the middle of an otherwise relatively inaccessible mile and a half section bordered by 315 on the west and the Olentangy on the east. I'm of two minds on this one. On the one hand, I'm not sure that the access point would be big with recreational users--on the other, anyone who spends any time on this section knows that it gets more use as a non-recreational pedestrian route to downtown. A bridge might improve or increase this use.

I've been collecting pictures and information on trail development and construction for a few years. I've created this page pretty much just as a holding point for construction information which has been superseded on the regular Detour and Update page. Other non-construction information can be found on the GREENWAYS AND TRAILS RESOURCES page.

OLENTANGY: BROADMEADOWS CONNECTOR BRIDGE

Construction will begin shortly on the connector bridge from the Olentangy Trail south of Antrim Lake to the east side of the river near Broadmeadows Blvd. This will provide access to many neighborhoods which have to go up to SR161 or down to Henderson Rd to access the trail now. It will also provide more access to the nearly two-mile section in the Olentangy Preserve which can only be reached at either end at the moment.

The article below appeared in the Suburban News Publication. The big news is that the Olentangy trail will be closed south of Antrim Lake and north of Henderson Road on weekdays for late fall, winter and most of the spring. I'm going to research Olentangy River Rd to Henderson as an alternate though I would have to say that, in my experience, the trail traffic through this area during the construction period (at least until the spring thaw) is minimal. As to the concerns about the bridge--I would point to similar designs already on the Alum Creek for durability and beauty.

I noticed that some work is being done on the walkways on Clifton Ave (on the Bexley side; Greenways Ave on the Columbus side), south of Nelson Park, on the short road bridge that crosses the Alum Creek. Both sides were barrelled off. Since you have to cross that bridge to continue south on the trail, be aware of the situation. Clifton is not a busy street but it does get some traffic. (8/12/06) Hopefully this will enhance the short traverse of this road for trail users.

Also, I should mention that some work was done to improve the trail in the parking area off Greenways this past year. These include some repaving, the post barriers and some raised crossing "bumps" to slow vehicular traffic.

This announcement on the OSU Facilities Operations and Development webpage gives a rough time-table for the implementation of elements of the campus plan. The page can be accessed here: http://www.physfac.ohio-state.edu/pare/mp/bikeways.htm

I visited the stretch of the Lower Scioto Trail from Bicentennial Park to Front St at Whittier. Although the pond construction is going on, it is on the other side of Whittier St and the trail as of 7/29/06 was open and unrestricted.

The Dispatch published this article recently on the new park. Since the new configuration will relocate a good deal of the trail in this area, the passage through this area will likely be disrupted for the next several months.

New park begins to take shape Downtown

Crews excavating ponds on Whittier Peninsula

Saturday, May 27, 2006

Dean Narciso

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

As rough-winged swallows skimmed the foundation of a demolished warehouse, John O’Meara gazed at the desolate landscape and envisioned birds, geese and other wildlife flocking to the Whittier Peninsula. Anyone who has recently passed the site south of Downtown might have noticed clouds of dust or the drone of earth movers. Construction has officially begun, and O’Meara, director of Columbus Metro Parks, mixes optimism and uncertainty when he talks about his agency’s first urban park. "It’s very new, very exciting," he said. "It’s fun being a part of the Downtown energy. To find 80 acres on which to build a park in any major city is really unheard of." The redevelopment of the site is a partnership between Metro Parks, the Columbus Audubon Society and city of Columbus. Metro Parks so far has spent about $5.3 million, $1 million of which will be reimbursed by state and federal grants. The most visible changes include the excavation of nine ponds, which will act as wetlands and as retaining ponds for future residential and commercial construction. Work to replace a boat ramp and a parking lot at the southern edge of the project will begin as early as next week. The ramp will be closed Tuesday through Sept. 1.Taking its place will be an upgraded ramp and an improved parking lot with benches and tables. That project will cost $330,000. Adding fishing and observation decks will cost an additional $100,000, said Larry Peck, Metro Parks deputy director. Next to the boat ramp are 100-year-old storm stand-by tanks, which overflow with sewage and storm water, called combined-sewer overflows, about 25 times a year. This week, Congress passed an act that includes $750,000 to refurbish the tanks. "Essentially what you have is sewage, exposed sewage," said Lori Baudro, neighborhood planning manager for the city. "It’s really wonderful that we have gotten the money for this," she said. Metro Parks’ role to date has been to demolish buildings, grind up the rubble for fill and cleanse the soil of contaminants. Columbus, meanwhile, is trying to negotiate a new home for the police impound lot. By the end of the year, Metro Parks said the park will begin to take shape with some plantings. "We would hope that the boat ramp is reconstructed and back available to the public, and that the wetlands would be done with some planting around those," Peck said. Last year, thousands of people attended Red, White and Boom at the site. Peck said he isn’t so sure the ongoing renovations will allow it this year.

dnarciso@dispatch.com


The entrance to the new trail section on Ebright Rd just south of Winchester Pike.	Looked towards Winchester Pike from Ebright. The new trail entrance is the snowy path to the center left.	The trail is already striped and marked. It passes a farm on the left and the Blacklick on the right.	The trail winds behind the farm, generally north west.	The trail winds through the woods and crosses the Blacklick Creek via a trail bridge.	The bridge crossing the Creek.	On the bridge.	On the other side. The trail section ends up ahead.

Nearing the end of the trail.	Trail ends.

ALUM CREEK LIVINGSTON to THREE CREEKS

SUMMARY OF GENERAL TRAIL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS: OCTOBER 2006

FUTURE TRAIL: MORPC FUNDING PROPOSAL

OLENTANGY: BROADMEADOWS CONNECTOR BRIDGE

Campus Bikeways Study

Top of the Page


View of the bridge from the south side trail.	Another view, from the north side in Bicentennial Park


Entrance to Cooper Park showing location trail sign	Intersection of Westerville Rd (SR 3) and Cooper Rd showing location signs	Informational sign at entrance to Nelson Park.


The fencing around the looping tail from the Creek bridge to the I -70 underpass (on the west side of the river) I-70 is in the top right background.	View east from the trail bridge toward College Ave. I-70 is visible above the trail.	Trail looking south toward Petzinger Rd along US 33 (College Ave)


The south side of the new bridge showing the crossing and the wide path to the trail on the other side.	The crowd at the dedication.	Three of the trail master builders: From left to right: Alan McKnight, director of CRPD, John O'Meara, Exec Director of Columbus Metro Parks and Brad Westall, CRPD Greenways Planner.