INDIANAPOLIS — Foundation work for a construction project that would install bollards, or protective posts used to block traffic, at several intersections along the Monon and Pennsy Trails began on Wednesday morning, according to the Indianapolis Department of Public Works.
The installation of those 22 bollards at specific points along both trails is part of what the city maintains is an ongoing strategy meant to keep people on the trails safe. The bollards are reflective steel posts that can collapse down for emergency or maintenance vehicles, but keep other cars out.
Throughout the last year, a rash of biker and pedestrian fatalities along or near the Monon prompted outcry from neighborhood and community groups that the city should move to protect trail users from cars.
Connie Szabo Schmucker, with Bicycle Garage Indy, has been advocating for safety changes for months.
"When people are out on a multi-use trail, you're not expecting to encounter a motor vehicle," she said. "You're not prepared. You're not expecting to see a car driving straight for you."
Intersections were chosen for bollard installation based on an assessment of safety concerns for cyclist and pedestrian users.
DPW said trail users could expect temporary or partial closures as construction continues over the coming weeks, trails will remain accessible during foundational work and bollard installation.
Partial closures include:
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
The selection of locations for bollard installation along the Monon Trail and Pennsy Trail follows a months-long analysis by DPW Engineering staff of safety concerns across the city’s entire trail network.
The $115,000 in funding for the bollard installation came from DPW's Trail Maintenance crew, which the department said is focused on keeping trail networks safe for bike and pedestrian use.
"We've seen too at DPW the increase in incidents of vehicles getting on the Monon," said DPW Director Brandon Herget. "What are the high-priority areas that we need to make sure we're addressing this so that in this instance with the Monon and the Pennsy, we're able to put the bollard infrastructure in necessary to block that vehicular traffic."
"I'm thrilled that it's happening, thrilled that they're listening, thrilled that there is going to be infrastructure actually put in to prevent drivers from going on the Monon," Szabo Schmucker said.
She'd still like to see more.
"It should be at every intersection," she said. "It should be consistent. It shouldn't be this intersection gets a different treatment than this other one."
Trail users should expect to see marked DPW Trail Maintenance vehicles and contractor vehicles periodically access trails throughout the season to perform critical services such as debris removal, mowing, and brush cutbacks that maintain trail safety.
Crews are also directed to always leave at least one lane of the trail passable and flag bike and pedestrian traffic around crews as they work.
If residents witness a driver entering a trail with their vehicle, they are asked to report the incident to IMPD's non-emergency line by calling 317-327-3811.