During this evening’s Committee Session, the Fort Wayne City Council approved a professional services agreement for the construction inspection and management of the Pufferbelly Trail Pedestrian Bridge over Coliseum Boulevard.
News release from the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana:
Update on Pufferbelly Trail Pedestrian Bridge project
Fort Wayne, Indiana (July 7, 2026) – Fort Wayne’s investment in infrastructure improvements continues.
During this evening’s Committee Session, the Fort Wayne City Council approved a professional services agreement for the construction inspection and management of the Pufferbelly Trail Pedestrian Bridge over Coliseum Boulevard. The contract is not to exceed $557,700. Final approval is expected at a future meeting.
The Pufferbelly Trail Pedestrian Bridge, also referred to as the Vann Family Crossing, is a $7 million pedestrian bridge that will be constructed across Coliseum Boulevard on the west side of Bob Thomas Ford and in front of Mission BBQ. The bridge will carry the Pufferbelly Trail over the roadway.
Once completed, the bridge will connect 130 miles of trails in our community. The bridge is funded with a $5 million grant from the Vann Family Foundation and City of Fort Wayne funding. Construction is expected from September 2026 through the end of 2027.
The bridge structure will consist of three segments: reinforced concrete approach spans running parallel to Coliseum Boulevard on the south, a steel beam main span with an architectural (nonstructural) arch, and reinforced concrete approach spans running perpendicular to Coliseum Boulevard on the north.
The foundation will consist of micropiles near underground utilities. An at-grade concrete trail will be constructed to connect the bridge to the existing Pufferbelly Trail, which was constructed in 2025 north of Bob Thomas Ford and on the south side of Coliseum Boulevard. A vehicular railing will be constructed on the south side of Coliseum Boulevard to protect the structure from collision damage. A steel pedestrian railing will be installed along the entire length of the approach and main spans. A cable mesh safety barrier will be installed to protect against objects being thrown from the bridge. Path lighting along the bridge, as well as architectural lighting on the arch, will be installed. Lettering signage will be installed on the main span. A stairway and sidewalk connection will be constructed from the north ramp of the bridge for future connectivity to an Indiana Department of Transportation sidewalk project planned for 2029-2030.
Under Mayor Sharon Tucker’s leadership the City is investing $37 million in neighborhood infrastructure enhancements this year.
Vann Family Crossing of Coliseum Boulevard for the Pufferbelly Trail on Engage Fort Wayne.
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