Challenge
The Wabash River Enhancement Corporation wanted the Sagamore Connector in Lafayette, Indiana, to carry trail users down a steep hillside as part of the Wabash River Greenway. The path had to stay within ADA slope limits the whole way down, which meant it couldn't simply run straight downhill. To keep the grade in check, the alignment had to switch back and forth across the slope, stretching the boardwalk to more than 1,000 feet.
The route also ran along a side slope. As the ground fell away beneath it, sections of the boardwalk ended up well above grade, putting tall piers and significant lateral loads into the design. The owner also wanted to give people who didn't need the accessible route a more direct way down, so the project called for stairs from the top of the slope to the bottom alongside the ramp.
Solution
Designer Kimley-Horn worked with PermaTrak to lay out a 1,072-foot precast concrete boardwalk that zigzags down the hill in a series of switchbacks, holding the ADA grade from top to bottom. The 11'-3" treads give a 10-foot clear width between railings, plenty of room for two-way trail traffic.
Where the boardwalk rises highest above the side slope, the team chose concrete drilled shaft foundations. The concrete piers offer strong lateral capacity, which made them a good fit for the taller sections. The structure was designed for an H5 live load.
PermaTrak also supplied precast concrete stairs that run straight down the slope, so visitors can choose the direct route or the accessible ramp. Beatty Construction installed the system in 2025. The finished boardwalk uses Natural Concrete color with the PermaGrip texture, a slip-resistant surface that matters on a route built entirely on a grade.
