The Nickel Plate Trail extension project kicked off Thursday morning with a groundbreaking ceremony at its current terminus in Rochester. By next July, the trail is to run north through Rochester, connecting with the Round Barn Golf Club at Mill Creek and Woodlawn Hospital trail.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the gazebo where the Nickel Plate Trail ends on Mitchell Drive in Rochester on Thursday, Nov. 7, kicking off the start of the trail's extension project. The trail will eventually be extended north into Rochester where it will connect to the Rochester Pathway that runs along the Round Barn Golf Club at Mill Creek and Woodlawn Hospital trail.
Nickel Plate Trail board communications coordinator Dan McCarthy said he believes the extension will help bring in more people to Rochester who are traveling on the trail from outside of the community, potentially helping the city's economy.

McCarthy said the Nickel Plate Trail addition will also be beneficial to Rochester residence as well.

Among those in attendance for the groundbreaking ceremony, Rochester Mayor Trent Odell said he also sees a lot of potential benefits the trail's extension will have for Rochester's economy. Over the summer, the city approved a bid by E&B Paving to complete the trail's eight-tenths of a mile expansion. For motor vehicles, Park Street will become a one-way street, so the extension can safely run across Ninth Street to connect to the other trail. The project is set to be complete by July 2025.

Pictured from left: Rochester Mayor Trent Odell, Mark McCall, Rick Ruppert, Mitch Hansel, Phil Bowers, William Click
FAA calls for airline traffic reduction to begin Friday
Central Indiana Land Trust names nature preserve to honor Efroymson family
Select Wings Etc. locations offering free entrée on Veterans Day
Tips for Carbon Monoxide Awareness Month
FSSA statement on SNAP benefits, one week delay
Gov. Braun orders flags to half-staff in honor of former Vice President Dick Cheney
Free admission to DNR properties for veterans, active-duty military, Nov. 11
Indiana Grown Holiday Box highlights local businesses for the third year
Christmas Nights of Lights returns to the Indiana State Fairgrounds
Indiana State Police wants everyone to stay safe this Halloween
Nominations being accepted for Indiana Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) of the Year
BMV warns customers of new scam text messages
National FFA Convention & Expo to call Indy home through 2040
Tortoises taken from Indianapolis Zoo found safe in Madison County park
INDOT has plans to expand electric vehicle charging
PH FFA competed in area and state Livestock Skillathon
Wednesday is Buckle Up Phone Down Day in Indiana
Logansport teen arrested after crashing vehicle while fleeing law enforcement
Indiana Department of Health confirms first flu death of season
