MCT obtains $3 million for the construction for new trail in Madison County
By Devese “Dee” Ursery
MADISON COUNTY — Madison County Transit has released more information on the construction of a new bike/pedestrian trail that will connect the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus with other bikeways on the trail system.
MCT is constructing a new bikeway known as the MCT Yellowhammer Connector. The trail connector is being constructed on the eastern edge of the SIUE campus and on MCT-owned property north of the Lincoln Knolls Subdivision in Edwardsville.
A $3 million “Rebuild Illinois” grant was obtained for the new connector project. Proceeds from the grant will provide- funds for land acquisition, design/engineering, and construction. Ellie Cone, Marketing Coordinator, MCT said the Yellowhammer Connector came about because of the need to more directly connect to the SIUE campus with downtown Edwardsville by way of the trail system.
“The connector will foster a greater sense of walkability and bikeability in the area,” Cone said. “This will create a vital, safe passage for those wishing to get from bustling downtown Edwardsville to SIUE’s scenic campus.”
According to Cone the points of connection will be SIUE to the MCT Goshen Trail. She said that his connector will allow people to easily access SIUE, and the rest of the MCT Trails system in a safe manner. The MCT Goshen Trail is known as the spine of the system – it connects to five other trails and spans South Roxana to O’Fallon.
“Creating a connection to the MCT Goshen Trail will allow users an endless possibilities of destinations,” Cone continued.
“Students of SIUE will benefit most from this project because they will have easier alternative transportation access into town,” Cone said. “Trailgoers and tourists coming to the region to utilize the MCT Trails will have more opportunities to explore even farther without leaving the trails.”
Construction of the new trail began on Nov. 1, 2023, and activities include tree and scrub brush clearing, earth moving, pile driving, installing a pre-engineered bridge, paving, re-seeding and tree planting, per official documents. Trail completion and opening are scheduled for Summer 2024.
Cone said the Yellowhammer connector will be built on a former streetcar corridor. The streetcar that traveled the corridor was locally known as the ‘Yellowhammer’ because the train cars speeding down the tracks sounded similar to the beat of a ‘Yellowhammer woodpecker.’
The MCT Yellowhammer Connector will run from the northeastern end of the SIUE Delyte Morris Trail to the MCT Goshen Trail just south of New Poag Road. The 10-foot-wide, asphalt trail is 2,400-feet-long and considered a Class I bikeway. This missing link between the SIUE campus and the community features a 200-foot-long bike “bowstring truss” concrete-deck bridge over the Delaplain Branch creek valley.
The engineering and design of this project is done by Oates and Associates, and the contractor working on the build of the connector is Keller Construction Company. The project supports MCT’s mission of reducing single occupancy vehicle use and improving air quality by creating a bike/pedestrian option for individuals commuting to or visiting SIUE.
“This connector is one of the MCT Trails system’s missing links. The Yellowhammer will provide a direct trail connection to the SIUE campus for thousands of residents,” said MCT Managing Director SJ Morrison. “The trail spans the Delaplain Branch and winds through a scenic valley on its way to the campus. We’ve cleared a lot of scrub brush and invasive trees and will be planting hardwoods, wildflowers, and other native plants and trees. It’s going to be a beautiful trail.”
