ELMDALE Non-MOtorized trail
Location: Ella Sharp Park - Jackson, MI
Concrete Contractor: Bella Concrete Construction, LLC
Bridge Contractor: Anlaan Corporation
Concrete Supplier: Doan Concrete/Willbee Transit Mix Co., Inc.
Design Engineer: ROWE Professional Services Company
Owner: City of Jackson
Being an extension of the city’s existing trail system, this concrete trail was funded by Safe Routes to School grants. The City of Jackson, in partnership with Jackson Public Schools, constructed a Safe Routes to School pedestrian and bicyclist non-motorized trail for the benefit of students attending Sharp Park Academy and the Middle School at Parkside. The owner made the wise decision to construct the non-motorized trail out of concrete for long-term durability and ease of maintenance.
To put safety first, Elmdale Drive was closed to traffic during construction to maintain a safe work environment for the community. This expedited the project’s construction schedule, with construction beginning in March 2021 and concluding in September. The trail was constructed in a previously dense vegetative area in an under-utilized portion of Ella Sharp Park. An 81-foot prefabricated steel bridge with concrete deck clear spans the Sharp Drain underneath.
In total, just over 4,200 square yards of 4-inch concrete pathway (470 cubic yards) was used for construction, along with an additional 250 cubic yards for sidewalks, curb, driveways, and substructure concrete. Plant-fabricated ready-mix concrete was brought to the site in mixer trucks. The trailway, sidewalks, curb, and driveways were formed, placed by hand, and mechanically screeded. The bridge substructure and concrete bridge deck were placed overnight with a concrete bucket suspended from a boom crane.
The curvature of the trail was a desired aesthetic feature. The non-motorized trail was constructed with spiral curves traversing the previously wooded terrain. The bridge abutments on each side were placed adjacent to state-regulated wetlands and floodplain. Along with this, 12 sidewalk ramps were upgraded to meet current ADA standards. Now, a winding trail and custom bridge bring an inviting and safe environment with concrete roots that will last for decades.
