By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Surveyors are plotting out the land where a long-anticipated walking and biking trail will soon be built in Hillsboro.

The trail will run from the south edge of hospital south to near an old rail bed.

Andale Construction of Valley Center was hired in May to build the trail at a cost of $379,271.

The city will pay $87,000 toward the project and Kansas Department of Transportation will pay the rest through a 90% match.

The trail will run east, then north. The starting point is between 1st and 2nd Sts. on Main St.

From there it will run a straight line to an abandoned railroad bed, where it will curve north and go straight to the south edge of Hillsboro Community Hospital property.

Its total length will be nearly a mile and a half.

“They have taken out the bridge and will start doing dirt work this week,” senior project manager Heath Hazen said.

The trail is expected to be completed by mid-May.