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Athene Pedestrian Bridge

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Ribbon Cutting; Thursday, November 21, 2024; 3:30 pm

Construction Updates

UPDATE:10/23/24 The gravel trail is open and users are able to once again complete a full loop around the lake. No further extended closures of the gravel trail are anticipated related to completing the Athene Pedestrian Bridge. Please note that the new paved trail connection near the soccer complex is still closed and will not be accessible until the bridge officially opens. The project is currently on schedule to be completed this fall.   

UPDATE: 10/04/24 A section of the loop trail at Raccoon River Park will be temporarily closed beginning Monday, October 7. The section of trail is expected to be closed for up to two weeks to complete work related to the Athene Pedestrian Bridge. There will be no through access on the gravel trail while the trail closure is in place. 

 

UPDATE: 09/06/24 Progress continues to be made on the project. Majority of the bridge structure and decorative elements have been installed. Remaining bridge items to be completed include safety cable railing and donor recognition plaques. The concrete trail and trail head parking lot on the Walnut Woods Park side was completed earlier this week. The paving contractor has mobilized to Raccoon River Park and will begin constructing the concrete trail leading to the bridge next week. Construction of the trail is anticipated to take up to two weeks to complete. After completion of the trail, the contractor will focus efforts on site restoration including backfilling, tree planting, and seeding of disturbed areas. Project remains on schedule to be completed this fall. 

 

6/17/24 Significant progress has been made in recent months. All of the bridge piers and abutments have been installed, the concrete bridge deck has been poured, and the decorative bridge features have started to be installed including the center overlook tree canopy. Construction is on track to be completed by this Fall. Over the next couple of months, the contractor plans on final grading and pouring the concrete trail connections leading up to the bridge.  See link for the most recent drone flyover taken on 6/11. Drone Flyover of the Project

 

2/9/24 Much progress has been made with the Athene Pedestrian Bridge project with several piers complete and two truss sections in place. Additional piers and abutments are to be finished in the coming months. The gravel loop trail remains open and no trail closures are expected.

  

11/20/23 Works continues on the Athene Pedestrian Bridge project. Contractor currently working on forming and pouring of the bridge piers. Work will continue as weather allows with completion of the bridge project anticipated to be completed by fall 2024. Gravel loop trail is open and no trail closures are currently scheduled. See link for a recent drone flyover of the project.

 

6/26/23 Starting Monday June 26 a section of the gravel loop trail at Raccoon River Park will be closed for construction related to the Athene Pedestrian Bridge project. Trail closure is anticipated to be in place for up to 2 weeks. Trail users may utilize the other sections of trail however a full loop around the lake will not be able to be completed during the trail closure period.

 

5/15/23 - The gravel loop trail at Raccoon River Park is open for use. Information on future trail closures will be communicated as they become available.

5/1/23 - Beginning 5/1, a section of the gravel loop trail at Raccoon River Park will be closed for up to two weeks for construction related to the Athene Pedestrian Bridge project.

 The trail will be closed in order to complete the realignment of a small section of the gravel trail near the future bridge location. During the trail closure, park users will still be able to use the other sections of trail however a full loop around the lake will not be able to be completed. Exact timing of the trail closure will be dependent on construction progress and weather. 

Once the trail realignment is in place, the loop trail is expected to remain open for the duration of the bridge project currently anticipated to be completed in Fall of 2024. More information on timing of trail closure will be posted on this page and signs indicating the trail closure will be posted onsite to alert trail users.

 

 

 

4/17/23 - The tree sub-contractor (J. Pettiecord, Inc.) has started removing/chipping the downed trees. Work will start at the gravel trail entrance and move towards the bridge location. During operations, the trail may be temporarily closed, especially when working near the bridge location.  

 

4/6/23 - A pre-construction meeting was held this week with the Athene Pedestrian Bridge contractor, Herberger Construction. The following will be happening throughout the months of April and May, beginning as soon as April 10:

  • Remove chain link fence
  • Mediacom will remove power lines
  • MidAmerican Energy Company will remove remainder of power poles
  • Clear downed trees
  • Install safety fence
  • Perform grading
  • Install access roads 

1/26/23 - A section of the loop trail at Raccoon River Park will be temporarily closed beginning Monday, February 6 through Thursday, February 16, 2023. The trail will be closed to complete tree work related to the Athene Pedestrian Bridge project.

Between February 6 and 16, trees that are within the bridge project's grading limits are planned to be felled. The felled trees will then be removed later in the spring. 

Why does the trail need to be closed?
Tree felling poses a danger to those who use the trail. For your safety, do not enter any barricaded area without prior authorization.

Why are you felling the trees now?
The US Fish and Wildlife Service places restrictions on the removal of trees that are potential roosting habitats for the Indiana Bat, which is a federal-listed endangered species. During the spring and summer, Indiana Bats roost in trees that are over 8" in diameter and have loose or exfoliating bark. Therefore, the no cut period for summer roosting habitats is April 1 to September 30. Felling the trees in February means not only that the law is being obeyed, but that an active roosting habitat will not be destroyed. 

Why are the trees being removed later in the spring?
The removal of the felled trees will be the responsibility of the contractor that will be selected in March for the construction of the Athene Pedestrian Bridge.

Will trees be planted to replace those that were removed?
Yes. New tree plantings are included with the bridge project.  

When will bridge construction begin and end?
Construction is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2023 and finish in the fall of 2024.

Will the loop trail be closed during construction of the bridge?
The loop trail is planned to remain open during the majority of construction. There will be times when the trail will need to be temporarily closed to allow construction equipment to access the site. Signs indicating trail closures will be posted to alert trail users.