ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, January 18, 1997 TAG: 9701200021
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG
SOURCE: ROBERT FREIS STAFF WRITER
"Huckleberry Trail: The Sequel" is in production for a late 1997 premiere.
About half of the six-mile, rails-to-trails footpath and bikeway remains to be built. The section extending from Blacksburg was completed late last year.
Plans are to issue construction bids next month for the unfinished section, which will extend the Huckleberry Trail from the intersection of Merrimac and Hightop roads to the New River Valley Mall.
If circumstances cooperate, that work could begin in late spring and be completed by late fall.
Presently, the project's planners are tying up loose ends regarding land acquisition and access for phase two of the trail, which generally follows the right of way of an abandoned rail spur that once connected Blacksburg to Christiansburg's Cambria train station.
The three-mile southern half will pass through the former site of a coal mine and community, cross active Norfolk Southern railroad tracks on a new bridge, pass through a steep railroad cut and behind Corning Inc.'s large plant and end near Peppers Ferry Road.
First proposed about seven years ago, the Huckleberry Trail has received about $700,000 in federal grant money, in addition to financial contributions from local industries, individuals and governments.
Delays in obtaining land agreements and satisfying environmental regulations forced the trail's construction to be split into two phases.
Completed late last year, the northern section of the trail has received heavy use during favorable weather.
State and federal officials still have to approve the final plans for phase two before the project can be advertised for bid. Trail planners hope that endorsement will come by the end of this month.
Earlier this week the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors accepted two trail right-of-way donations: a 10-acre parcel that contains the old Merrimac coal mine site from BGB Equipment Rental; and an easement from Crown American Financial Partnership on the New River Valley Mall property.
Trail planners are beginning to focus on long-term issues such as emergency access, trail signs, rules for trail use, trail maintenance and other enhancements.
The goal is to make the Huckleberry Trail a greenway and linear park, said Bill Ellenbogen, president of Friends of the Huckleberry.
Plans to extend the finished trail through downtown Blacksburg are moving forward. But Christiansburg has decided to delay applying for a grant to extend the trail from Peppers Ferry Road south to the site of its planned municipal recreation center.
LENGTH: Medium: 53 linesby CNB