The City of Owensboro hopes to open its newest segment of the David C. Adkisson Greenbelt Park this fall. The extension project spans a .8-mile stretch along U.S. 60, connecting with the walking trail in the Heartlands subdivision.
Assistant City Engineer Dirk Dooper said a final application of asphalt surface is all that remains to be done before opening this latest section of the walking trail.
“The remaining work after that is to do the final touch-up work by contractor before opening to the public,” Dooper said. “This should ideally be opened up in the fall this year.”
The new trail begins at the northeast corner at Ragu Drive at KY 54 in front of Huck’s and will end at a parking lot south of KY 603. The section actually utilizes a part of the former bypass, Dooper said.
The total bid price for the project was $363,386.40 and has taken 14 months to complete.
“Our issues with this project were due to weather this past winter and spring,” Dooper said.
According to Dooper, this extension was a priority for the City of Owensboro.
“With KYTC building the new U.S. 60 bypass and the old bypass no longer being used, this was a good opportunity to continue the Greenbelt expansion,” he said. “With the pavement already in place, the City didn’t have to purchase new right of way and the existing pavement is still being utilized as a traveled way.”
Dooper said there are no other ongoing Greenbelt projects, but new extensions will be considered later. For the current fall season, Dooper said the engineering department is focusing on getting streets repaved before the asphalt plant has its winter shutdown.
