KCStar: Kansas City connects Indian Creek Trail to Blue River Road

Kansas City has recently opened a major new trail connection: 

Blue River Trail in Kansas City

Kansas City has linked the Indian Creek Trail with the Blue River Trail in the southeast part of town. Travelers reaching the state line from Kansas can go east from the Watts Mill area, swing close to the Bannister Federal Complex and then head east-southeast through very pretty terrain to Blue River Road. Most of the trail is paved, and shelters under railroad overpasses protect trail users from flying debris.

The new trail is a major step towards connecting major bicycling corridors in the Kansas City region.  The Indian Creek Trail connects with dozens of miles of trails around Johnson County.  Blue River Road is a major cycling corridor in western Jackson County. In the past, connecting these two major corridors by bicycle has been difficult at best--they are separate by rivers, complex, sprawling interstate freeway interchanges, and busy city streets.

But the new trail connection makes it easy for anyone to ride, walk, or run between the two corridors.  Visiting the area on a recent weekday afternoon, I was pleasantly surprised at the number of cyclists, walkers, and runners who are already using the trail connection.