The Illinois Department of Transportation and the cities of Pana and Taylorville held a ribbon cutting to commemorate the finishing of the new Lincoln Prairie Trail Bridge over Flat Branch.  The bridge completion is the first time the trail has been open in nearly 10 years.  At 15 miles long, the Lincoln Prairie Trail connects Pana and Taylorville along Route 29.  It’s one of the longest paved trails in Illinois south of Chicago, opening in 2001 along the old Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.  

Acting Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi says that these projects are her favorite.

Terry Baker with the Lincoln Prairie Trail Conservancy says that this bridge is step one of a bigger plan to connect other communities together.

Newly elected Taylorville Aldermen Steve Dennis spoke about the project saying that the hope is that with the trail open that it will allow people a chance to explore nature and learn a little more about what is around them.

Pana Mayor Nathan Pastor says a lot of moving parts had to come together to make this project a reality. 

Pana was awarded $1.1 million in 2023 for the removal and replacement of the previous bridge as it was forced to close in 2015 due to its poor condition.  The new bridge is a 200 foot single span steel structure designed for nonmotorized traffic with 72-foot timber decking and railing on each side. 

Find out more information on the bridge and on future IDOT plans by visiting IDOT on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict6.