Site work for Midland Trace Trail Phase II will begin Monday – weather permitting – as trees along the planned trail will be cleared. Trees will only be removed from city-owned or public right-of-way land.
“Tree clearing is the first step in the construction process so the land can be prepped for site work. We’re excited to begin Phase II a year ahead of schedule and continue the momentum of the Midland Trace Trail,” Mayor John Ditslear said.
The first phase of the Midland Trace Trail was constructed in 2017. It connected Westfield’s portion of the trail at Gray Road to Hazel Dell Road. Phase II will continue the 12-foot wide multi-use trail from Hazel Dell east to Willowview Road. Initial tree clearing work will be done between now and mid-March. Construction of the trail will begin as weather allows – mid-March or later – with plans to have Phase II of the trail open by mid-August.
The city hired an independent arborist to review the clearing plans and the site to inventory trees. A summary of the arborist’s clearing report is online available at this link. Because of federal regulations for bat habitats, tree clearings must be done this time of the year before construction of the trail is ready to proceed.
Construction of Phase II and the land acquired are 80 percent funded by a federal aid grant obtained by the Noblesville Engineering Department and 20 percent by the city.