Some city trails will soon be safer for cyclists and pedestrians

Crews with the Department of Public Works began foundation work this week in preparation for bollard installation on the Monon and Pennsy Trails.

DPW Director Brandon Herget said the bollard posts will provide additional safety.

“We've been able to identify high traffic areas where we've seen incidents of vehicles accessing the trails inappropriately, and we're able to now install bollards at those intersections. There are 22 intersections across the network, both on the Monon and Pennsy trails,” Herget said.

Herget said the bollard is a steel structure that sticks up about two to three feet above grade.

“It is reflective, it is painted in such a way that it's a high visual indicator to car traffic, pedestrian traffic, anyone near the space and near those intersections, that it's a physical barrier meant to identify for both drivers and pedestrians to exert caution,” Herget added.

This year is the first of a five-year $1.1 billion capital plan for the city of Indianapolis.

“Included this year is an additional 20 miles of trail infrastructure across our county.” Herget said.

“So beyond just the bollard installations on both the Monon and Pennsy trails, we've got a bunch of great projects that we're really excited about that we think are going to be transformative for neighborhoods and increase access for not only leisure activity, but also for pedestrian access.”

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

.Contact WFYI Morning Edition newscaster and reporter Taylor Bennett at tbennett@wfyi.org. Follow on Twitter: @TaylorB2213.