Scioto Trail Update on the Franklinton/Souder Avenue Trail Connector
Attention Scioto Trail users! Columbus Recreation and Parks Department is thrilled to announce the start of the Franklinton/Souder Avenue trail connector. This project will build a new pedestrian bridge over the Scioto River and a new trail along Souder Avenue to West Broad Street. The project will tie in thousands of residents and employees to the regional trail network and complete the popular 3-mile downtown trail loop, which includes the Scioto Mile, COSI and the National Veterans Memorial and Museum.
Starting in August 2023, the trail will undergo construction to build the new pedestrian bridge and trail, complete with lighting and additional tree plantings.
For everyone’s safety, the trail will be temporarily closed at Souder Avenue during the construction period. A temporary detour path has been constructed on the north side of the Scioto River, which will allow the path to remain open heading upstream to 5th Avenue. Please adhere to the designated detour route provided on-site for a seamless journey to your favorite outdoor activities. We appreciate your cooperation. Stay tuned for updates on the completion date and the opening of the new bridge. See the detour map.
Construction is set to be completed July 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can you help me learn more about the year-long Scioto Trail detour for the Souder bike-pedestrian bridge project?
The temporary detour path is a newly constructed path on the north side of Scioto River, which will allow the Scioto Trail to remain fully open while avoiding construction activities. The temporary path will not cause any disruptions to normal trail activities, including Ohio to Erie Trail traffic.
Will this close the Ohio to Erie Trail (lower Scioto Greenway Trail) on the north side of the bridge or only on the south side of the bridge?
No, the Ohio to Erie Trail will remain open. The trail access point will be closed on the south side of the Scioto Trail, however, detour signs will be placed on the south side of the Scioto Trail off the Broad Street access point (in front of National Veterans Memorial and Museum) to indicate trail users should use the north side of the Scioto Trail to continue upstream to 5th Avenue.
What is the actual date that the barriers will be in place?
The temporary trail is currently constructed and will be in place until the end of the project, which is expected to be completed in July 2024. The temporary trail/detour is officially active now while the project site is under construction through July 2024.
What is the detour route?
The detour route is a newly constructed temporary trail on the north side of the Scioto River that bypasses the construction activities for constructing the new pedestrian bridge. The temporary trail detour path includes a marked crossing at Rickenbacker Drive, a signalized crossing at N. Souder Avenue and connects users back to the Scioto Greenway west of Souder Avenue. See the detour map.
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