Published: October 30, 2009 06:23 pm      

It’s official: Greenway getting $969,000 in funding

They asked for $3 million.

However, those with the Ohio River Greenway Development Commission aren’t complaining. They’re celebrating the fact that President Barack Obama signed a bill this week that gives them $969,000 to help fund completion of the greenway project.

The project includes creating a multipurpose pathway that would be lighted with seating alongside it connecting New Albany to paths in Clarksville and Jeffersonville, according to Scott Wood, commission board member and assistant director of planning for the City of New Albany.

“It’s important for a lot of reasons. It reconnects the city with the riverfront,” Wood said. “It creates an alternative way to get to Clarksville, Jeffersonville and vice versa.”

However, more funds are needed. He said though no formal estimate has been figured, he expects the project to cost between $4.5 million to $5 million, because of complicated work to go under the K & I bridge and dealing with the steep riverbank.

Wood said much of the funding, about $4 million, is obligated to the project. Wood said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is in the process of negotiating a contract with an architectural and engineering firm, so final costs won’t be known until that is done. He said donations would be sought to pick up the rest of the tab or some of the project would be put on hold.

Rep. Baron Hill, D-Ind., said this project will mean a lot for the area.

“This is an economic development and job-creation project,” Hill said. “As such, I have been a consistent supporter of it. And, we have already seen successes with this project.

“New restaurants and other businesses have set up shop near the multicity trail and many more plan to do the same.

“I am pleased we were successful in securing these funds, and look forward to seeing this project progress.”

Wood said the first phase of the project includes developing the path between Silver Creek to 18th Street in New Albany. He said he hopes construction to start on that portion by early summer and be done by January 2011.

As for Jeffersonville, plans are being finalized for a ramp that will go from the Big Four Bridge’s deck to Mulberry Street, near the intersections with Market and Chestnut streets.

The Big Four Bridge is a former railway span which is being converted into a pedestrian-only bridge connecting the downtowns of Louisville and Jeffersonville.

The state of Indiana has requested $15 million federal stimulus money to fund construction of the Jeffersonville approach — a ramp approximately 1,500 feet long that could accommodate emergency vehicles in addition to pedestrians and bicyclists.