June 2012

Spring 2012 Issue of Newsletter Just Released

Submitted by curt on June 8, 2012

Our lead story is on the Deep River Rail-Trail in Randolph County and we also will give you the latest on the recent grant to the Elkin Valley Trails Association from Lowes Home Improvement. The PDF version is here now. Members opting for the hardcopy version can expect it in the mail by mid-June.

Lowe’s Donates Money for E & A Rail Trail Suspension Bridges

Submitted by carrie on June 7, 2012

Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation has awarded a $25,000 grant to Elkin Valley Trails Association.  The grant will be used for the building of two 90-foot suspension footbridges over Elkin Creek on the Elkin & Allegheny Rail-Trail.  The funds will help expand the existing trails and greenways to Stone Mountain State Park.  Marshall Croom, chairman of Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation, shows that Lowe's understands the importance of and supports the efforts that enrich the lives of their customers and neighbors. 

Marshall Croom states “By supporting organizations like the Elkin Valley Trails Association, we believe we are contributing to a cause that’s important to our customers and employees and helping build a stronger foundation for the children who will be tomorrow’s employees, homeowners and community leaders.” 

North Carolina Rail-Trails is the fiscal sponsor of the Elkin Valley Trails Association.

Please visit the Trails Association's site for more on this story and see Lowes Community Programs for more on their community/educational efforts.

Southern Part of the American Tobacco Trail Closed as of June 11, 2012

Submitted by carrie on June 4, 2012

Beginning June 11, the southern portion of Durham’s American Tobacco Trail will be closed for 13 months between N.C. Highway 54 southward to the Chatham County line. Trail parking on Fayetteville Road near New Hope Church will also be closed.  This portion of the trail is set to reopen by March 2013.  The new portion of the  trail going from N.C. Highway 54 to Renaissance Parkway and the bridge construction will be done by July 2013.

The project will include paving a 10-foot-wide asphalt path on 2.8 miles of existing trail; installing 1.4 miles of new trail, and installing a bicycle and pedestrian bridge over Interstate 40. The .7 mile section from Scott-King Road to the Chatham County line will have both a 10' wide asphalt section and an adjacecent 6' wide section with a granite screenings surface.

The trail is closed for your safety during construction. Please note that the trail will not be passable during this time period.

During construction trail users wanting to connect to or from the sections in Chatham and Wake Counties may want to look at this detour routing posted on Map My Rides https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/fullscreen/73395606/