TAYLORVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — A project to reconnect Taylorville and Pana has been completed thanks to funding from the Illinois Department of Transportation.

On Tuesday, IDOT, Taylorville and Pana announced the completion of a new Lincoln Prairie Trail bridge over Flat Branch, a branch of the Sangamon River’s South Fork. The new bridge closes a large gap in the trail and marks the first time in 10 years that people can go from end to end with interruption.

“We are proud to have played a role in helping these two cities arrive at a solution to restore a rails-to-trails project that enjoys widespread community support,” Acting Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi said. “The Lincoln Prairie Trail is once again a viable transportation option for people traveling between Taylorville and Pana, while promoting quality of life in central Illinois and setting the stage for even more improvements.”

At 15 miles, the Lincoln Prairie Trail is one of the longest paved trails in Illinois south of Chicago. The trail opened in 2001 along the old Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and connects Pana and Taylorville along Illinois 29.

Pana was awarded $1.1 million in 2023 for the removal and replacement of the previous bridge over Flat Branch through an Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) grant administered by IDOT.

The old bridge was an original structure that once carried trains but was forced to close in 2015 due to its poor condition. This new bridge is a 200-foot single-span steel structure designed for nonmotorized traffic, with 72-foot timber decking and railing on each end.

“I would personally like to thank IDOT for their commitment to the residents of Pana and Taylorville for providing the needed funding for this project,” Pana Mayor Nathan Pastor said. “Without IDOT funding 90% of this project, we could not have moved forward with the construction of a new bridge.”

More improvements to the trail were provided through the Lincoln Prairie Trail Conservancy, a volunteer group dedicated to improving and expanding the trail to eventually connect to Springfield. These upgrades include two new trailhead facilities, improved signage, water stations, bike racks, repair stations and a native plant garden.

Governor JB Pritzker announced the latest round of funding through ITEP last week, a record $139.2 million to communities across Illinois to support bike and pedestrian paths and trails, “streetscape beautification” and other projects designed to emphasize safe travel across numerous modes of local transportation.

Additional IDOT District 6 updates can be found on their Twitter page, and to view area construction details, visit IDOT’s traveler information map.