Ohio River Way Receives ODOT Funding to Develop Comprehensive Ohio River Trail Plan
Contact:
Forest Clevenger, Executive Director, Ohio River Way
forest@ohioriverway.org
(502) 777-5314
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 17, 2025
CINCINNATI, OH (October 17, 2025) — The Ohio River Way has been awarded funding from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Pedestrian & Bicycle Special Solicitation to develop the Ohio River Trail Comprehensive Plan, a transformative initiative to create a safe, connected, and scenic cycling corridor along the Ohio River.
The project will plan a 182-mile trail from North Bend to Chesapeake, Ohio, connecting riverfront communities including Cincinnati, New Richmond, Ripley, Manchester, Portsmouth, and Ironton. Once complete, the route will link all of Ohio’s southern border along the river and serve as a foundation for future interstate connectivity with Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia.
“This funding marks an exciting step toward realizing a long-term vision for the Ohio River corridor,” said Forest Clevenger, Executive Director of Ohio River Way. “The river already connects communities culturally and economically—now, it can connect them physically, too, through safe, accessible, and scenic cycling routes.”
A quiet Ohio River
Building on Regional Momentum
The planning effort, budgeted at $275,000, will be completed by May 30, 2026, and comes at a time of unprecedented investment in Ohio’s riverfront communities. It complements the state’s $152 million Wonderful Waterfronts Initiative, part of the Appalachian Community Grant Program, which has spurred widespread enthusiasm for cycling infrastructure and riverfront revitalization.
About the Comprehensive Plan
The Ohio River Trail Comprehensive Plan will unify and expand upon existing local and regional trail plans to create a cohesive vision for cycling along U.S. Route 52 and U.S. Route 50. The plan will include three key components:
Cataloging Existing Infrastructure
Cataloging Existing Planning
Creating a Visionary Route (by linking these stretches)
Throughout, we will have community engagement sessions—through our newly formed Cycling Committee—with partner organizations to guide planning and ensure community participation.
The resulting plan will serve as a blueprint for future funding and construction, identifying short- and long-term opportunities to improve road conditions, create shared-use paths, enhance cyclist-friendly infrastructure, and boost local Ohio rivertown economies.
About the Ohio River Way
The Ohio River Way is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to promoting outdoor recreation, environmental stewardship, and economic development along the Ohio River. Through its commitment to on-the-ground and on-the-water community engagement, the organization fosters regional collaboration and encourages individuals to explore and appreciate one of the country’s most historic waterways.