The Taylorville Kiwanis Club heard an update on the long awaited Taylorville to Pana bike trail bridge, at its weekly Tuesday meeting at the Taylorville Moose Lodge.

Program speakers were Ben Robinson and Steve Dennis from the Lincoln Trail Conservancy, the organization responsible for overseeing and maintaining the Taylorville to Pana bike trail.   Dennis gave an update on the Bike Trail Bridge, saying it’s been manufactured and is ready to be brought to the site from Wisconsin.  Dennis added the project manager has evaluated the site to begin construction in March of this year.  The bridge will span the entire space and will not have any support in the middle like the train trestle bridge it is replacing.

Dennis told Kiwanis members once construction begins, it’s expected to take around 60 days to complete.   A bridge reopening celebration will take place once it’s finished.

Robinson gave an update on other projects and maintenance, telling Kiwanis members six wooden benches along the trail have been refurbished with new wood; parking lot lines at the Pana trailhead will be painted; a new bike rack was installed at the Taylorville trailhead; and the Christian County Master Gardeners organization has planted a native garden also at the Taylorville trailhead.  

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club is part of a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.  Weekly meetings are held Tuesdays at noon at the Taylorville Moose Lodge.  For information on the club, go to taylorvillekiwanis.com.