www.newrivervalley.com

JUSTIN COOK The Roanoke Times

A bridge is being built over Peak Creek on the New River Trail in Pulaski. Peak Creek, a small tributary to Claytor Lake in the New River basin, flows beside the trail's new extension.

PULASKI -- In 1995, the headline was "NRV Trail going to Pulaski."

In 1999, it was "Girl Scouts urge trail extension."

And in 2007: "Group laments speed of Pulaski projects."

Finally, the groups and the Girl Scouts can stop lamenting. The extension of the New River Trail into downtown Pulaski is nearly complete.

No one could be more relieved about that than John Hawley.

Hawley, Pulaski's town manager for the past six years, was the town engineer for 23 years prior to that. He remembers researching Virginia Department of Transportation requirements for the trail long before becoming the town's top administrator.

"We've been talking about the trail for at least 15 years," Hawley said Monday. "This thing has went through many iterations."

Holdups have included routing problems, transportation grant requirements, right-of-way agreements and other bureaucratic red tape.

"We had to get a letter of clearance from the Coast Guard to say Peak Creek was not a navigable stream," Hawley groaned. Peak Creek, a small tributary to Claytor Lake in the New River basin, flows beside the trail extension.

Construction on the 2.2-mile stretch from the trail head at Xaloy on Pulaski's eastern end to a paved connector trail at Cool Springs started in December. The last hurdle is to complete the remaining half of a low-water bridge over Peak Creek, a hurdle Hawley expects to jump as soon as water from recent rains recedes a bit.

Hawley, along with Pulaski Parks and Recreation director Dave Hart, say that should happen any day now. Most certainly, they say, the trail extension will be ready for a big dedication celebration June 7.

Barbie Tate, Pulaski's community relations director, said the celebration was planned to coincide with National Trail Day.

"We have a whole host of activities planned on that day," Tate noted. "We'd love to have all the participants who enjoy walking, running or biking."

Once the bridge is finished, the trail will be open from the historic depot at the Pulaski Train Station to the terminus near Xaloy, where it will connect with the 57-mile New River Trail State Park. Virginia's only linear state park, the trail winds through Pulaski, Wythe, Carroll and Grayson counties and into the city of Galax.

The Pulaski extension, however, will be owned and maintained by the town. The first phase of the extension from the depot to Cool Springs is almost a mile of asphalt pavement. It cost $80,000 and was finished several years ago.

The second and current phase is expected to cost $330,000 with $100,000 coming from a Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation grant, according to Hawley. This section of trail will have a cinder-like surface of fine gravel, similar to the existing state park trail surface.

"We've tried to keep the look of the trail and the design of it as close to the New River Trail as we can," Hart noted.

The extension traverses underneath Virginia 99.

"There's a beautiful area where it crosses under 99," Hart said. "You can get an up-close view of the train trestle."

"On the rest of the trail, you cross over the trestles. Here, you go under," Hawley added.

The new section of trail follows the stream where spring foliage has fragrant honeysuckle, wild columbine and delicate buttercups now blooming. While visitors will have scenic views of the creek on one side, the other side sidles up to the property of some homeowners, as well as sites such as the town's pump station.

"We'll plant honeysuckle and Leyland cypress in front of the pump station," Hart said. "If you get the sweet-smelling honeysuckle, you might knock out the odor."

Improvements to landscaping will come in the next phase of the trail project. The town wants to install resting benches and picnic tables. A kiosk was erected at the depot with the idea of having signs directing visitors to downtown shops and eateries.

Horses will be allowed from the New River Trail to the Cool Springs area. The paved section coming into town, however, is for walkers and cyclists only.

One of the best benefits of the extension, Hawley said, is that there are several access points with free parking. Plans are to have a sign on the trail directing users to Calfee Park, and there will be several places along the trail where fishermen can get to Peak Creek.

Recently, the town initiated a community garden project next to Virginia 99 with more than 35 plots available for residents to grow summer vegetables. The garden, too, is visible from the trail.

Hawley said Pulaski residents are already excited about the opening of the trail and he thinks it will be an asset to the town's morale and, more importantly, to its flagging economy.

"We've really tried to make it feel like a trail town," he said, noting that Pulaski recently installed "Share-the-Road" signs around town to remind motorists to look out for bicyclists.

Hart, who admits he has not enjoyed the trail on a personal level in recent years, said that is about to change once he dusts off his bike.

"Now that the cost of gas is going to retire my boat," he said, "I'll probably be back on the trail more."