Pandemic delays Riverside Trail project
But the Riverside-Jackson intersection will soon be reconstructed/realigned
MUNCIE — Construction of the Riverside Trail between Morrison Road and Tillotson Avenue has been delayed until next year after no contractors submitted bids to build the trail.
However, the reconstruction and realignment of the intersection of Riverside and Jackson Street, which is part of the project, remains on schedule and is expected to start in October.
Contractors were reluctant to bid on the trail and related storm sewer and road improvements earlier this year. Due to the pandemic-related long lead time needed to obtain supplies including pipe, contractors were concerned they might not be able to meet the deadline to finish the project this year. That could have exposed them to delay damages.
A new bid opening, set for Oct. 6, calls for completion of the project by July 1 of next year.
Local partners on the trail and intersection projects include Delaware Advancement Corp., the Muncie Sanitary District and the city of Muncie.
Riverside-Jackson will be reconfigured from its current diagonal intersection to a more perpendicular junction.
Upon completion, all traffic will stop at the intersection except for eastbound thru vehicles on Jackson. As a result, the intersection will no longer be used like an off ramp by eastbound Jackson motorists turning left onto Riverside at speeds of 40 mph or so. Also, a road diet will reduce Riverside east of Jackson from four lanes to two.
Even before the delay in awarding a contract, construction of the trail — exceeding a mile, between the Morrison Road Roundabout and Christy Woods on the campus of Ball State University — was delayed by opposition.
As a result, “those concerns are being addressed,” consultant Phil Tevis told me.
The problems being dealt with include speeding cars, poor drainage on Riverside, rough pavement on Riverside, loss of trees and lack of driveway turnarounds. In addition, a trail spur will be constructed from Riverside north to the Catalina Swim Club. At the same time, Indiana-American Water Co. will be replacing a main half the length of the trail along Riverside.
The trail will travel along the north side of Jackson from the Morrison Roundabout to Riverside. At the Pinview at Riverside neighborhood entrance, the trail will cross over to the south side of Riverside.
Several hundred thousand dollars have been raised locally to match $640,000 earmarked for the project by the state of Indiana’s Next Level Trails program.
Other partners include the East Central Indiana Regional Development Authority and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.
“I hope that the community recognizes that the Riverside Trail is significant to the marketability of our community in much the same way as the downtown, the river, and our reinvention of the Muncie school system,” Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour has said.
The trail brings pedestrian connectivity to and from residential neighborhoods adjacent to Muncie’s two largest employers, Ball State and IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital.
First comprehensive article I’ve seen about the Riverside Trail project. Thanks.