09-17-2006, 12:24 PM
Construction has commenced on an Ohio River boat ramp complex that, once finished, will provide the only free state access site on the Indiana side of the river from Clarksville to Madison.
When completed, the Charlestown State Park facility will be one of the largest ramps available on this section of the Ohio, which is heavily used by recreational boaters. Features of the facility will include a 75-foot wide ramp that will provide five launching lanes, a 98-car parking lot, two river overlooks, ADA facilities and signage.
The work, which is being done by contractor MAC of New Albany, is expected to continue through next spring and into early summer.
At first, the construction effort may not be obvious to visitors and local residents. The initial part of the effort will be the reconstruction of 3 miles of roads from the current park to the site for the new ramp. A new two-lane bridge over Jenny Lind Run that will replace the old one-lane bridge is included in the project.
The area the project addresses is a nearly 80 mile long pool created by the McAlpine Lock and Dam, one of five such structures on Indiana’s portion of the Ohio. Until now, there have been no Indiana public access sites or bridge crossings on this heavily used section of the river.
The expected total cost is approximately $2.8 million. The estimated cost of the boat ramp and parking lot is $1.03 million, 75 percent of which will be funded by a federal sport fish restoration grant. The balance of the project will be paid for by state funds.
Although use of the boat ramp will be free, a gate fee is charged to all vehicles entering the park itself. The Monday-through-Thursday rate for in-state vehicles is $4 per day, $5 Friday through Sunday and holidays. Cost for out-of-state vehicles is $7 daily.
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When completed, the Charlestown State Park facility will be one of the largest ramps available on this section of the Ohio, which is heavily used by recreational boaters. Features of the facility will include a 75-foot wide ramp that will provide five launching lanes, a 98-car parking lot, two river overlooks, ADA facilities and signage.
The work, which is being done by contractor MAC of New Albany, is expected to continue through next spring and into early summer.
At first, the construction effort may not be obvious to visitors and local residents. The initial part of the effort will be the reconstruction of 3 miles of roads from the current park to the site for the new ramp. A new two-lane bridge over Jenny Lind Run that will replace the old one-lane bridge is included in the project.
The area the project addresses is a nearly 80 mile long pool created by the McAlpine Lock and Dam, one of five such structures on Indiana’s portion of the Ohio. Until now, there have been no Indiana public access sites or bridge crossings on this heavily used section of the river.
The expected total cost is approximately $2.8 million. The estimated cost of the boat ramp and parking lot is $1.03 million, 75 percent of which will be funded by a federal sport fish restoration grant. The balance of the project will be paid for by state funds.
Although use of the boat ramp will be free, a gate fee is charged to all vehicles entering the park itself. The Monday-through-Thursday rate for in-state vehicles is $4 per day, $5 Friday through Sunday and holidays. Cost for out-of-state vehicles is $7 daily.
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