Trail Connecting Downtown to Notre Dame Set to Begin Construction

March 26, 2024 - The City of South Bend's Board of Public Works awarded a bid today to Milestone Contractors North, LLC for the first phase of a trail and streetscape project along Hill Street, South Bend Avenue and Notre Dame Avenue. The project is funded jointly by the City, Hotel-Motel Tax Board via Visit South Bend Mishawaka and the University of Notre Dame. Partners envision the trail strengthening the physical connection between downtown South Bend and the University of Notre Dame.

"Strengthening the connection between these economic centers will help our city grow and create a more livable South Bend for residents and outside visitors," said Mayor James Mueller. "I am grateful for the partnership with the University of Notre Dame and the Hotel-Motel Tax Board that helped to build this new trail."

The trail will begin in downtown South Bend in the plaza on the corner of LaSalle Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Boulevard. It will take pedestrians and bicyclists east on LaSalle Avenue, north on Hill Street, then northeast on South Bend Avenue to join Notre Dame Avenue. The trail will culminate at the Angela Boulevard and Notre Dame Avenue intersection where users can continue to the University of Notre Dame campus or join the multiuse path along Angela Boulevard. Angela Boulevard will also see traffic calming and pedestrian safety measures this summer as part of a separate project.

"The new trail will offer a literal and figurative connection between downtown South Bend and the University of Notre Dame, serving as a destination for residents, students and visitors," says Jeff Jarnecke, executive director of Visit South Bend Mishawaka. "It will invite those on campus to enjoy the wonderful restaurants, shops, and experiences downtown while offering an obvious and engaging way for the visitors in downtown's 618 hotel rooms to more easily find their way to campus."

The scope of the trail and streetscape project includes the replacement of curbs and sidewalks along the route, bumpouts, raised intersections at key locations, street paving, underground utility work, decorative street lighting, trees and landscaping. The project aims to promote safety for all modes of travel, calm traffic and improve infrastructure.

"Notre Dame has long sought to foster connections with the surrounding community via strategic partnerships with schools, governments, businesses and nonprofits, among others," said Tim Sexton, associate vice president for public affairs at Notre Dame. "To that end, we are pleased to collaborate with the city of South Bend and Visit South Bend Mishawaka on this exciting new trail project, which will greatly enhance access to downtown, campus and points in between. It will also promote health and recreation, spur economic development, and contribute to a more safe, livable and walkable community. We look forward to joining with our partners and the community at large to celebrate the completion of the project later this year."

Construction on the first phase of the project - Notre Dame Avenue from South Bend Avenue to Angela Boulevard - is expected to start by mid-April with an estimated completion date of early September, weather permitting. The second phase - South Bend Avenue from Notre Dame Avenue to Hill Street and Hill Street from South Bend Avenue to LaSalle Avenue - is currently in the bidding phase. Construction is expected to start in May and be completed by mid-October, weather permitting.

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