Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Huckleberry Trail extension to start next month
Work on the Christiansburg section will be funded through a grant.
JUSTIN COOK The Roanoke Times
A runner makes her way down the beginning of the Huckleberry Trail near the Blacksburg library.
| Sharla Bardin
sharla.bardin@roanoke.com, 381-1669
CHRISTIANSBURG -- Construction is expected to start next month to extend the Huckleberry Trail from the back of the New River Valley Mall to Peppers Ferry Road.
The work is being funded through a $165,000 transportation enhancement grant through the Virginia Department of Transportation.
The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors on Monday approved the agreement with VDOT.
In October 2007, the supervisors approved an application for the grant on behalf of Christiansburg for the trail expansion.
The county was awarded the grant subject to a 20 percent local match of $41,250 from the town.
Christiansburg will be responsible for administering and overseeing the project.
Barry Helms, assistant town manager, said that the project is to extend the trail along the side of the mall to Peppers Ferry Road (Virginia 114) and that the goal is to finish by summer.
Helms said the town's goal is ultimately to extend the Huckleberry Trail to downtown Christiansburg.
"It's something the public enjoys, and it's good for the community," he said.
Part of the expansion plans has included talks of how the trail could cut across busy Peppers Ferry Road. A bridge has been mentioned as an option.
Last year, though, the transportation department passed on the town's application for federal Transportation Enhancement Program grants.
The town had asked for about $450,000 to fund the construction of the bridge, connecting the trail from the mall with the rear of Walmart.
Dana Martin, the Salem District representative of the Commonwealth Transportation Board that oversees VDOT, said at that time that projects that were previously approved and had already received funding took priority over the construction of the bridge.
Christiansburg Town Manager Lance Terpenny said the town will continue to apply for transportation enhancement grants for the trail project.
