Fort Wayne’s Pufferbelly pedestrian bridge moves toward construction

A Fort Wayne City Council committee-session action has advanced professional services for inspection and construction management of the planned Pufferbelly Trail pedestrian bridge over Coliseum Boulevard, moving the project closer to an expected September 2026 construction start.

The agreement with Engineering Resources covers Work Order 0768R and has a not-to-exceed value of $557,700. That amount is separate from the bridge project’s estimated total cost of approximately $7 million. The city said July 7 that final approval of the agreement was expected at a future meeting, and the council’s July 14 meeting packet listed the ordinance for consideration.

Bridge will cross Coliseum Boulevard

Known as the Vann Family Crossing, the bridge is planned between Mission BBQ and the west side of Bob Thomas Ford in Fort Wayne. It is designed to carry the Pufferbelly Trail over Coliseum Boulevard rather than requiring trail users to cross the roadway at grade.

The city’s July project announcement said the bridge would connect 130 miles of trails in the community. A current Engage Fort Wayne project page separately reports that the Greater Fort Wayne Area Trails Network had 165 miles as of April 2026, including 110 miles inside city limits.

Funding includes private grant and city money

The estimated $7 million project is supported by a $5 million grant from the Vann Family Foundation, along with funding from the City of Fort Wayne.

The planned structure includes concrete approach spans, a steel main span and an architectural arch. City materials also describe lighting, pedestrian railings and a safety barrier as part of the design.

Construction timeline remains expected

Construction is expected to begin in September 2026 and continue through the end of 2027. The latest action concerns professional inspection and construction-management services; it does not mean the bridge is complete, open to the public or already under construction.

The schedule and estimated total cost remain subject to subsequent approvals, bidding and construction management. For residents and trail users, the immediate change is that the Vann Family Crossing has moved further through the approval process ahead of its planned construction window.

Sources

• City of Fort Wayne: Update on Pufferbelly Trail Pedestrian Bridge project
• Fort Wayne City Council Documents: July 14, 2026 meeting packet
• Engage Fort Wayne: Vann Family Crossing of Coliseum Boulevard