Question: “What is happening along Millsboro Road in front of Discovery School, the adjoining vacant lot and the Mansfield Art Center? Trees have been trimmed and cleared and there are loads of little flags.”
MANSFIELD — It’s all part of a bigger overall project that one day officials hope will connect the B&O Trail into downtown Mansfield.
A 3,300-foot long concrete, multi-use path is being constructed on the south side of Millsboro Road between Trimble Road and Marion Avenue, according to city engineer Bob Bianchi.
Once that 10-foot-wide trail is complete this summer — and the connector trail between the B&O and Trimble is done — bicyclists and walkers will be able to safely move from the bike trail to the Mansfield Art Center, without having to be on the roads.
Eventually, Bianchi said, the city hopes to make improvements along Marion Avenue into the downtown.
Work on the trail along Millsboro Road began with the removal of trees and growth along the south side of the road. That work had to done between Oct. 15 and March 31 due to federal requirements protecting the endangered Indiana Brown Bat population.
Construction work was then paused until Discovery School at 855 Millsboro Road finishes its 2024-2025 academic year, Bianchi said.
“We didn’t want to impact the school year,” he said.
The project was awarded to Smith Paving & Excavating Co. from Norwalk in December.
The construction work along Millsboro has a $758,642 price tag, all of which is coming from federal and state funds, according to Bianchi.
The engineer said the trail will “meander a little” onto the Mansfield Art Center property before connecting into Marion Avenue.
Lighted bollards will be placed near the art center and brick, mid-block crossing areas are also being considered.
He said another section of new concrete trail is being considered on the east side of Trimble Road between Marion and Millsboro avenues, replacing a narrower section.
“The goal is to have the new connector trail from the B&O Trail to the Mansfield Art Center by 2028,” he said.
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