The Constitution Trail is a multi-use

rail trail A rail trail is a shared-use path on railway right of way. Rail trails are typically constructed after a railway has been abandoned and the track has been removed, but may also share the right of way with active railways, light rail, or streetca ...

located in

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Roc ...

. It occupies an abandoned

Illinois Central Gulf Railroad The Illinois Central Railroad , sometimes called the Main Line of Mid-America, was a railroad in the Central United States, with its primary routes connecting Chicago, Illinois, with New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama. A line also c ...

corridor that runs through the 'Twin Cities' of Bloomington and Normal in

McLean County, Illinois McLean County is the largest county by land area in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it had a population of 169,572. Its county seat is Bloomington. McLean County is included in the Bloomington–Normal, IL Metropoli ...

. The trail, which is owned by the municipalities of Bloomington and Normal, is used by bikers, inline skaters, walkers, runners and skiers, and covers approximately . of former railways. It features the

Camelback Bridge A truss bridge is a bridge whose load-bearing superstructure is composed of a truss, a structure of connected elements, usually forming triangular units. The connected elements (typically straight) may be stressed from tension, compression, or s ...

in Normal, a site on the U.S.

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artist ...

. Its official opening was May 6, 1989. In 2000, the trail was officially named a "Millennium Trail" by the

White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington, D.C., NW in Washington, D.C., and has been the residence of every U.S. preside ...

Millennium Council. Image:Constitution-Trail-006-02.jpg, Camelback Bridge, overlooking the trail. Image:Constitution-Trail-004-02.jpg, One of the many wooden bridges overlooking Bloomington City streets.

Trail description

Constitution Trail consists of over 45 miles of trail and connects to the historic Route 66 Trail in McLean County. The trail features 32 trailheads around the cities of Normal and Bloomington with multiple historic sites and points of interest throughout the trail system.

Trail branches

* Illinois Central: The main trail that runs north-south through the Bloomington-Normal area. The trailhead starts north of Normal at the Kerrick Parking and Access Point () and ends after 6.5 miles at Croxton Ave, Bloomington (). * Northtown: Splits off from the Illinois Central branch and runs along the Ironwood Golf Course. Trail is almost 3 miles long. * Bloomer Line: Splits off from the Illinois Central branch at the Allers Shelter Wayside and Connie Link Ampitheater. This branch runs west-east and is roughly 4.5 miles long. * Collegiate: Splits off from the Illinois Central branch at the Normal Parks & Rec Office and ends at the Heartland Community College after 3.5 miles. * Southtown: A 7-mile branch with the trailhead beginning at Pepper Ridge Park and ending at Streid Drive. * Interurban: A little over 4.5 miles, this branch begins at the West Route 9 Wayside and ends at the Evergreen Memorial Cemetery. * Route 66: Follows US Route 66 as it cuts southwest through Normal and Bloomington. There is an access point at Pepper Ridge Park in Bloomington. From Bloomington to Normal the trail is 7.8 miles. The total trail length is 37.2 miles.

Trail amenities

Amenities include restrooms, shelters/gazebos, parking, benches, water fountains, trash receptacles, and picnic tables.

References

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External links

Town of NormalCity of BloomingtonOfficial website of The Constitution Trail
Rail trails in Illinois Illinois Central Railroad Bloomington–Normal Protected areas of McLean County, Illinois Tourist attractions in Bloomington–Normal 1989 establishments in Illinois Protected areas established in 1989