Nickel Plate Trail Extension and Pedestrian Bridge Opens in Fishers

“Trails are consistently the top way Hoosiers tell us they enjoy experiencing Indiana’s great outdoors,” said Dale Brier, deputy director of Indiana State Parks. “This expansion to the Nickle Plate Trail provides another great way to get outside with a safe connection for bikers, runners, and walkers between Fishers and Indy, opening the door to an expansive regional trail network.”

The 1.3-mile multi-use trail extension was constructed by the city of Fishers in two phases with help from a $4.5 million grant administered by the DNR. The new section fills a critical gap between 96th and 106th Street, with a pedestrian bridge over 96th Street.

Following the historic Nickel Plate railroad corridor, the Nickel Plate Trail now runs north from 96th Street through Fishers and into Noblesville. On the south end, using the newly constructed bridge, it connects Fishers into Indianapolis. After the Indiana Department of Transportation completes the I-465/I-69 interchange currently under construction, the Nickle Plate Trail will run 17 miles and provide a direct connection to the Monon Trail by the Indiana State Fairgrounds, creating a massive regional trail system of continuous paths for recreation and commuting.

“The addition of the 96th Street bridge to the Nickel Plate Trail is a major step forward for the metro area’s regional trail network,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness. “We’ve doubled down on outdoor recreational amenities in Fishers to foster a culture of health, and with DNR’s grant funding to bring this trail extension and bridge to reality, visitors and residents of Fishers, Indianapolis, and central Indiana all win.”

DNR has led the largest infusion of trails funding in state history, with $180 million in dedicated trail funding administered through DNR that facilitates critical trail connections within and between Hoosier communities. A total of 59 of the 89 projects are complete, with another 12 under construction. With this opening, more than 167 miles of trail have been built since the program’s inception.