ANDERSON — With nine bridges in the space of seven miles along the proposed Mounds Lake Reservoir, community leaders may eventually have to determine which spans are replaced.
The question will revolve around how many will be required to meet future transportation needs.
Those currently being considered for replacement are the bridge on Scatterfield Road between Tenth Street and Mounds Road in Anderson and the one at Interstate 69.
Should the reservoir, which will extend from Anderson to Yorktown, there will be changes in traffic patterns around the proposed 2,100-acre lake.
Ron Sparks, executive director of the Corporation for Economic Development in Madison County, said the Scatterfield Road span will be replaced. He said the tentative proposal is to construct the bridge with an island in the center.
The plan is to erect a statue of Chief Anderson looking east toward Mounds State Park with a park on the south side of the span that displays the cultural impact of the community.
“We believe a learning center could be located at the island,” Sparks said. “There would be a passive stopping point for people to park and explore the exhibits.”
Sparks said the bridge would have a similar route as the existing bridge with a possible slight curve to the west.
Depending on the height of the reservoir pool, a new bridge could be required at Ind. 32 and I-69. The estimated cost has been set at approximately $15 million.
Whether to replace bridges on Rangeline Road, north of Mounds Road and on Ind. 32 connecting Anderson to Chesterfield would be decisions for still-to-be-formed Mounds Lake Commission and the impacted communities.
“We have several million dollars in the proposed budget for the replacement of the bridges,” Sparks said. “Those funds will have to be spent on either new bridges or upgrades to the surrounding roads.”
Sparks said traffic studies will be a big part of the decision.
“There has to be community participation in the decisions,” he said. "Most people agree that nine bridges are too many, but don't want the bridge closest to them closed."
Trail system
The CED envisions a trail system that will extend from the existing Cardinal Greenway in Delaware County that will connect to trails on both sides of the reservoir to Anderson.
Sparks said the north terminus would be at Shadyside Park and could extend to Raible Avenue.
The trails would be hard surface to allow for hiking and bicycle riding along the trail system.
The CED would like to replace the Rangeline Nature Reserve mountain biking park and trails and move them to the former Killbuck Park, north of Anderson.
Sparks said a proposal is for the Mounds Lake Commission to purchase the 25 acres from the county to the east of the intersection of Rangeline and Mounds roads for the expansion of the Mounds State Park.
“We see Mounds State Park as the center of activities,” he said. “There would be a visitor’s center, boat launches and a beach.”
Sparks said the trail system concept was developed prior to the announcement in 2014 by the Hoosier Environmental Council suggesting trails.
“They are very similar in concept,” he said.
Don Henderson with CED said development of a trail system requires money for construction and people to use the facilities.
“If there is a declining population, people won’t use the trail system,” he said.
Henderson said the problem with the Hoosier Environmental Council proposal is a lack of a funding source, adding that there is a lot of competition for available grant funds.
“Designing and building a trail system is built into the reservoir project,” he said. “It also costs money to maintain the trails.”
Sparks said if the reservoir becomes a reality there is the possibility of team events along the trails system and lake including triathlon.
“It becomes a regional draw,” he said.
Henderson said developers will have to work with each community on what is located around the reservoir.
Sparks said the Mounds Lake Commission will be responsible for zoning and will provide a regional developmental opportunity.