Briana Pace | Southern Indiana Business Report
After nearly 20 years, what was once known as “The Road to Nowhere” is now the road to somewhere. The River Road and Trail in Tell City was completed and celebrated with ribbon cutting ceremony May 21.
Downtown Tell City has undergone a great deal of revitalization and investment in the last five to 10 years. River Road is another project that aims to further improve the downtown area and Seventh Street corridor.
River Road offers a direct connection between the Tell City River Port and State Road 66. In the last two years,3,500 inbound and 4,000 outbound tons of freight travelled through downtown Tell City on the way from theport to State Road 66. The new road allows that tonnage to be efficiently rerouted outside of residential areas,improving safety and reducing wear and tear on city streets, all of which betters the quality of life for residents and local businesses.
“Having heavy truck traffic going over that area repeatedly, multiple times a week does have an impact,”President and CEO of Perry Development Corporation Erin Emerson said. “Being able to reroute that, I think, isjust a good investment across the board.”
All companies that utilize the port will benefit from the better route, including Perry County’s largest employer,Waupaca Foundry. Instead of relying on rail transportation, Waupaca will be able to use River Road.
“It really strengthens their ability to serve the existing industry,” Emerson said, “but also creates additional capacity for, hopefully, growth.”
The project also features a walking and biking trail that connects to the Tell City Greenway Trail, extending thetrail system by about 1.5 miles.
“I’ve been on there a couple times now with my dog,” Tell City resident Jennifer Chestnut said, “and it is peaceful and it’s pretty.”
The new trail gives Chestnut motivation to get outside and be active. She much prefers walking or running withher goldendoodle, Phoebe, on the scenic path along river than just through the sidewalks of her neighborhood. It’s also safer due to the lack of traffic in the area.
“There’s not houses there; there’s not really any businesses there,” Chestnut said. “So, I just don’t think that it’sgoing to have a ton of traffic, which will make it safer for everybody wanting to be out and be healthy.”
Safety not only will improve for those trying to be active, but also for those who work in the next town over, Cannelton, and don’t have vehicles. Chestnut has noticed people riding to work on bikes and scooters downhighway 66 to get to work. The new trail will allow them a less trafficked area to safely get to Cannelton.
It also will bring new economic and tourism opportunities to Tell City, according to Mayor Chris Cail. With thenew road, barges will be able to easily unload onto trucks, instead of relying on trains.
“It’s more accessible,” Cail said, “and a lot safer to do it that way.”
With the scenic views from the road, Cail imagines residential houses or vacation cabins might be builtalongside it one day. He also expects local motorcycle groups that go for drives in the area will take advantageof the new road as well.
“It’s a decent long drive,” Cail said. “I can see them taking a stroll down this road at some point.”
The biggest impacts he foresees is an increase of people moving to the area and retention of those already inthe community. The trail is something people look for when considering moving to a new town or staying wherethey are.
“Once they see the drive, or do the run, or the walk, or bike it,” Cail said, “I think it’s going to be one morereason why they could fall in love with Tell City.”