The nearly 7-mile MetroBikeLink Trail cuts across eastern Belleville connecting the Swansea MetroLink Station and Memorial Hospital Station to Southwestern Illinois College, generally following the MetroLink rail line. Bridges carry trail users safely over Richland Creek and the Norfolk Southern Railroad, as well as over Illinois Route 159 and Fullerton Road. Drinking fountains are available at both stations.
A new spur heading north (near the Swansea station) is part of the Richland Creek Bikeway, which follows the creek toward Illinois Route 161.
There are plans to extend the trail even farther (3.5 miles) to Fairview Heights MetroLink station as well as east another 3.5 miles to the Shiloh-Scott MetroLink station.
Parking can be found just north of the Swansea MetroLink Station in Swansea Plaza.
This was really an expensive trail to build--what with all the elaborate bridges and retaining systems on hillsides! Even now there's a section of trail closed for construction near the eastern terminus. They're building a bridge over Green Mount Road ...
We only had a little bit of time to walk as we caught one warm day in February. But we walked about a mile of the trail and loved it! I love that you walk next to the metro tracks, and that you cross over and under bridges! Will definately be using this ...