Fishers Nickel Plate Trail has a finish date for final leg of $15 million project

The last leg of the Fishers Nickel Plate Trail should be finished by June 2024, more than seven years after plans were first announced, officials said.

The final stretch of the greenway will include a bridge over 96^th Street and paving 1.3 miles of the greenway from 106^th Street to 96^th Street.

Construction of the 12-foot-wide path and bridge will begin in March, 2023. The paving will be finished in September and the bridge completed in 2024, said Ashley Elrod, a city spokeswoman.

The project will cost $6.3 million, with $4.5 paid for by an Indiana Next Level Trails Grant. It will connect to the Nickel Plate section being built by Indianapolis that will extend to the Indiana State Fairgrounds at 42nd Street. Indianapolis is scheduled to complete the majority of its stretch in 2024.

More:Nickel Plate Trail getting closer to connecting Fishers, Noblesville, Indy

Fishers and Noblesville first announced announced plans for a 9-mile trail through the two cities in early 2017. Fishers estimated it's share of the cost at the time was $4.5 million but it ballooned to more than $15 million because the suburb built a tunnel under 116^th Street and will build the 96^th Street bridge.

Noblesville will start construction of 2.7 miles from 146^th Street to Pleasant Street in March, 2023. It should be finished by Thanksgiving at a cost of $3.4 million, paid for by a Next Level Trails grant. The city is considering building a bridge over 146^th Street.

Fishers still plans several trail enhancement such as children's play areas and art installments along the trail, with a focus on the section near 116th Street.

Call IndyStar reporter John Tuohy at 317-444-6418. Email at john.tuohy@indystar.com and follow on Twitter and Facebook

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Fishers Nickel Plate Trail set for finish in 2024