One of the main destinations for bikers, runners and dog walkers using the Olentangy Trail is Antrim Lake. But heavy traffic on the trail near the lake can often cause snarls and crashes.

Beginning this month, the trail will be widened from just south of the lake south to Bethel Road, where a connector eventually will be built to allow bike commuters and others to cross under nearby Route 315.

The cost of the widening, repaving and connector is about $3.1 million, funded by a $2.6 million Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission grant using federal bikeway funds and $500,000 from Columbus. Columbus Recreation and Parks is overseeing the project, said Brian Hoyt, parks spokesman.

"We look at this as being a community connector," said Tim Moloney, Metro Parks executive director. "There (are) so many businesses and residents in that corridor who now will be connected to the trail."

The widening, from the current 9 feet to 12 feet, will close the trail beginning July 22. The general contractor, Complete General Construction, has promised to reopen it by Aug. 12. A detour will direct trail users to the Broad Meadows pedestrian bridge over the Olentangy River and along several Clintonville secondary streets and North High Street, then west on Weisheimer Road before reconnecting them with the trail at Henderson Road.

Consider it a kind of cyclist's version of the long-debated but never achieved Morse-Bethel connector to extend Morse Road, which dead-ends at North High Street, through Clintonville into Bethel Road.

The trail connector will require building a culvert under northbound Route 315's exit ramp to Bethel Road. Bike access along Bethel will lead to the 57-acre Anheuser Busch Sports Park and a COTA park-and-ride lot at the southwest corner of Bethel Road and Route 315. That is expected to be complete by November.

"That will be a nice addition," said Steve Sunderland, who was enjoying the Olentangy Trail on Wednesday as workers took out shrubs and leveled the ground. "I would utilize that." Sunderland lives near Godown and Bethel roads and typically parks at Antrim Park to use the trail.

Advocates for cycling and bike commuting are thrilled.

"One of the big things we push for is choosing other modes of transportation," said Jason Poindexter, a bike commuter and volunteer business manager for the nonprofit advocacy group Yay Bikes.

"A lot of people say 'I'm comfortable riding on the trail, but my office is a mile from the trail.' We train people on how to safely ride that last mile."

dnarciso@dispatch.com

@DeanNarciso