Pedestrian bridge signals start of work on hiking trail

The first signs of Jackson's hiking and biking trail sprung to life Monday morning as construction workers installed a pedestrian bridge over Rocky Branch along Route D.

A crane lowered the bridge into place, blocking one lane of traffic for about 20 to 25 minutes.

Though some work, such as storm water pipe installations, has been done, the placement of the bridge marked the unofficial kickoff of one of the city's most ambitious visions -- a 6-foot-wide hiking and biking trail system that will circle much of the city.

The first phase of the project, which will tie into the trail within the city park and extend to the middle school along Independence Street, will be paid mostly by the Missouri Department of Transportation with Transportation Enhancement Funds Program money -- funding that comes from the federal government and is dispersed by each MoDOT district.

Safety issue for some

City and MoDOT officials tagged the project a safety issue because children walk along Route D from school every day. School officials, parents and students have praised the idea of having a walking trail for the middle school students.

Of the $228,473 contract, MoDOT will pay 80 percent, or roughly $182,000, of the first phase. MoDOT also paid for the engineering and inspection costs, said Dan Triller, Jackson's city engineer.

Triller said the contractor, G and C Construction out of Perryville, should have the trail completed around the first of June, weather permitting.

Sometime after the city will begin construction on the second phase, which will run from the middle school to Orchard Elementary.

Triller said the city has not yet decided how that project will be done. He said the project could be bid out or the city might do it with its own employees.

The third phase will connect Orchard Elementary School to West Jackson Boulevard and will tie in with MoDOT's plans for a trail along the Highway 34/72 widening.

Eventually, the city plans to connect the trail system as far south as the under-construction soccer park on Route PP, up to Jefferson Street by the high school, northwest along Goose Creek through Litz Park, back west through undeveloped land and through Brookside Park where the trail will fork north to the industrial park and south toward the City Park.

The first phase of the project got off to a much later start than anticipated. Last March, the city of Jackson submitted plans to MoDOT and MoDOT officials then had hoped construction would begin in June with a completion date in September. But, because the project receives federal funds, it must be approved by federal, state and local authorities. The project, city officials say, was delayed as the project sought approval from the various committees.

bmiller@semissourian.com

243-6635