A pedestrian bridge is planned in Ankeny over Southeast Oralabor Road. The bridge will be just east of Oralabor Cemetery. Architectural rendering by Snyder and Associates

Construction is scheduled to begin Wednesday evening on the final phase of the High Trestle Trail extension project in Ankeny.

The popular trail is being extended from Southeast Magazine Road to Southeast Oralabor Road. The project is a continuation of work that began in 2020 when the trail was extended from just west of Ankeny Boulevardto Southeast Magazine Road. The extension included an underpass at Ankeny Boulevard.

The extension of the trail to Southeast Oralabor Road includes the construction of a pedestrian bridge over Oralabor Road that will connect the Gay Lea Wilson and Oralabor Gateway trails to the High Trestle Trail. The Gay Lea Wilson Trail borders the east side of Oralabor Cemetery.

The Ankeny City Council in July awarded the project to Grimes-based Cramer & Associates Inc., who submitted the low bid of just over $3 million. The city received $700,000 for the project from  the federal government’s Transportation Alternatives Program. It also received nearly $500,000 for the project from Iowa Department of Transportation programs. The remainder of the project is being paid for with money from city of Ankeny funds.

During construction, the Oralabor Gateway Trail will be closed on Oralabor Road from Southeast Peach Tree Drive to Southeast Rio Drive. The Gay Lea Wilson Trail will be closed at Southeast Oralabor Road to the Springwood neighborhood connection at Southeast Primrose Drive. There will also be intermittent lane restrictions on Southeast Oralabor Road near the construction site.

The trail extension project is expected to be completed by summer 2022.