Kansas Department of Transportation’s Flint Hills Trail Bridge built a new trail bridge over an active BNSF rail line and restored 3.4 miles of trail to eliminate a road detour. The Flint Hills Trail is the longest rail-trail in Kansas and one of the longest in the United States, spanning 93 miles across east central Kansas.
In Franklin County, a gap forced users onto a gravel road detour around an active BNSF rail line; putting families, cyclists, and equestrians in road traffic and breaking the trail’s continuity.
The $5.6 million project created a continuous route that keeps users away from roads with traffic and on the trail; helping boost trail activity, bringing more visitors into town, and supporting local businesses. For residents, the restored section means reliable access for walking, cycling and horseback riding without having to share the road with vehicles.
The connection also improves access to the town of Ottawa, where the Flint Hills Trail connects with the Prairie Spirit Trail, allowing users to travel between two of the state’s longest trails without leaving the corridor.
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