To expand the network of shared-use trails in western Indiana, the West Central Indiana Economic Development District (WCIEDD) wishes to acquire the abandoned Penn Central Railroad Crawfordsville Branch (between North Terre Haute and Rockville) and transform it into a pedestrian/bicycle greenway trail. A connection between these two cities will permit recreational access to a long stretch of rural Parke and Vigo Counties and boost tourism in conjunction with Parke County’s Covered Bridge Festival. Wabash Valley Rail-Trail Consulting (WVRTC) (see Disclaimer) was asked by WCIEDD to investigate the current condition of the right-of-way and perform a design for the proposed trail.

The seventeen-mile right-of-way is aligned north-northeast from Otter Creek Junction to Catlin, at which point it turns north and follows the Sunderland Branch of Little Raccoon Creek to Rockville. Since being abandoned in the early 1970’s, about half of the right-of-way has been sold by the railroad holding company to private landowners. About half of the right-of-way has become overgrown, while the rest either remains open or has been reclaimed for agricultural use. Most bridges have deteriorated or been entirely removed.

Responding to requests from the client, WVRTC designed a trail conforming to ADA specifications and federal guidelines. The overall trail design included specification of the typical trail cross-section, site designs of trailhead facilities, trail design, and a phased construction plan. Trailheads will be located in Rockville, Catlin, Rosedale, and North Terre Haute. The North Terre Haute trailhead site is Markle Mill Park, and a connection to Otter Creek Junction will be provided by 1.6 miles of trail constructed along Rosedale Road and upon the abandoned Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad (Brazil Branch). WVRTC also performed primary structural element designs for two bridges, a timber covered bridge crossing Bridgeton Road in Rockville and a timber trestle spanning Sunderland Branch of Little Raccoon Creek north of Catlin.

Trail construction is estimated to cost $3,270,000, which includes clearing and grubbing, small-span bridge improvements, road crossings, and trailhead construction. The timber trestle is estimated to cost $16,300, and the covered bridge is estimated at $58,100.

Full Report

Covered Bridge Gateway Trail Final Report (89.8 MB, see note below)
This large file contains the body and all of the appendices, plus the drawings and larger figures. If the report is too large, individual parts can be viewed separately below.

Individual Parts

Report Body (11.2 MB)
Appendix A: Property Ownership (57.3 MB, see note below)
Appendix B: Photographic Survey (9.5 MB)
Appendix C: Markle Mill Park Trailhead Development Envelope (1.0 MB)
Appendix D: Codes and Regulations (132 KB)
Appendix E: Site Surveys (89 KB)
Appendix F: Hydrologic and Hydraulic Study (538 KB)
Appendix G: Sunderland Branch Soil Investigation (424 KB)
Appendix H: Bridge Design Options (1.8 MB)
Appendix I: Assessment of Design Options (145 KB)
Appendix J: Bridgeton Road Covered Bridge Loads (538 KB)
Appendix K: Bridgeton Road Covered Bridge Member Design (232 KB)
Appendix L: Sunderland Branch Trestle Design (252 KB)
Appendix M: Trail Design (1.2 MB)
Appendix N: Trailhead Layout (541 KB)
Appendix O: Overall Trail Alignment (4.3 MB)
Appendix P: Estimated Trail Costs (216 KB)

Note: The full report and Appendix A files are no longer permanently hosted on this site due to size constraints. If you need either of these files, please email Dave Honan or Pat Martin to arrange for their availability.