ORLEANS – Construction continues in Orleans on the beginning phase of the Monon South Trail.
Once complete the trail will span nearly 60 miles through Orange, Lawrence, Washington, and Clark counties and will become Indiana’s continuous hiking/biking trail.
According to Town Clerk Robert Henderson, the present trail work is being done by MAC Construction who will continue to work in Orleans and Mitchell at least through August. The company is expected to begin laying asphalt in Orleans by the end of the month.
Work on the segment linking Borden and New Pekin – the most extended section in Phase 1A – will begin in September and last several months.
Work will begin on the Salem, Campbellsburg, and Saltillo sections in early 2025, with July as the target date for substantially completing those areas.
MAC Construction of New Albany was awarded the Phase 1A paving contract. Phase 1B will include the construction of trailheads, restroom facilities, and parking.
The sections of the trail between the paved segments will be completed in future phases.
The trail will span nearly 60 miles through Lawrence, Orange, Washington, and Clark counties, with an additional portion completed through New Albany. The final, entire trail will traverse 62.3 miles, making it the longest continuous trail in the state.
The state’s Next Level Trails program awarded $22.3 million to Radius Indiana, the region’s economic development partnership, to facilitate the trail construction of a railbanked CSX railway corridor. This is in addition to the $5.5 million the state provided to purchase the corridor. Radius received $1 million from the READI program and has spent $1 million in Radius funds on the trail. Radius will pursue grants and other funding sources to continue trail construction.
The estimated cost to complete the project is estimated around $70 million.
Radius will offer a Trail Town certification program to assist communities in welcoming trail users. In 2025, Radius will hold a pitch competition for trail-friendly business ideas.
