CLARKSVILLE, Ind. (WDRB) -- The missing link is finally in place for a project designed to bridge the gap between communities in southern Indiana.
Construction is almost complete on a pedestrian bridge over Silver Creek that connects New Albany and Clarksville.
Clarksville began construction on the bridge about a year ago at a cost of $3.8 million, most of it paid with federal funds
Brian Kaluzny, Clarksville's parks and recreation supervisor, said the bridge is the final connection linking the entire Ohio River Greenway Project.
“This is the missing link, so to speak,” Kaluzny said.
The bridge itself is complete, but fencing, cameras and other safety features are still to be installed along trails leading to it. Construction equipment remains in the area, Clarksville parks and recreation spokesman Ken Conklin said.
The Ohio River Greenway is a 7.5 mile walking and biking path stretching along the river from the Big Four Bridge in Jeffersonville, through Clarksville, to New Albany.
Kaluzny said the project gets people closer to the river, and that means more tourism and more business.
"Just to be able to cross the creek, trying to connect the communities is really significant,” he said.
But, technically, the bridge is not open yet. Crews are still working to finish the trails connecting to the bridge.
“It's in place," Kaluzny said. "It's usable, but it's really technically not open."
Clarksville's parks department asks people to stay away until it opens officially.
But joggers and bikers such as Brent Torstrick have already discovered it. No matter the weather, he rides his bike between New Albany and Clarksville every day.
Torstrick said the new bridge connecting the communities makes the riding a lot safer and saves time.
“Twenty minutes. Every bit of it,” Torstrick said. “A lot easier riding, too, because you're not riding with traffic scared about cars hitting you or something like that.”
The three cities have scheduled a ribbon-cutting and cycling event for next spring. But Torstrick is not waiting.
“It works,” he said. “It's the best thing they could have probably done.”
To learn more about the Ohio River Greenway, click here.
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