It has been a long time coming. Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness referred to the “controversy and turmoil” he and his council members withstood when the former tracks of the Nickel Plate Railroad became the Nickel Plate Trail
Fadness and many of his council members were on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 106th Street near Hub & Spoke. The completion of the south end of this trail takes the Nickel Plate to 96th Street and the border with Indianapolis.
“Ultimately, there will be a bridge on the south end connecting us to Indianapolis,” Fadness said at the ceremony. “That design is currently underway. Indianapolis now has funding to bring the trail from 96th Street all the way down to the (State) Fairgrounds.”
On the northern end of the trail, Fadness said the only obstacle to extending the trail north to downtown Noblesville is a bridge at 146th Street that is currently being designed.
The mayor says the trail also extends to the new Andretti Global Headquarters in Fishers. The governing body for Formula One racing, FIA, announced Monday that Andretti meets all required criteria to expand into the world’s top motorsports series, clearing a major hurdle. Andretti is expected to field 2 cars in Formula One.
Mayor Fadness has proposed a node at the trail near 106th Street, including public rest rooms, as part of his 2024 budget proposal now before the City Council.
“This has a huge regional impact for the northeast side of Central Indiana and we are very, very excited about it,” said Fadness.
Ribbon is cut on the south end of the Nickel Plate Trail