Lopez Backs Project to Re-Use Abandoned Railroad Bridge for New Trail in Milton

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Lopez Backs Project to Re-Use Abandoned Railroad Bridge for New Trail in Milton

September 3, 2018 All Ages and Abilities Cycling Low Traffic Stress Bikeway Networks Transportation Trails 6

Abandoned for years and hidden behind years of overgrowth, thanks to State Senator Ernie Lopez this old wooden railroad bridge is going to become part of a trail in Milton.

 

Thanks to strong support from State Senator Ernie Lopez, an ambitious project to build a paved bike path between Lavinia Street and Federal Street, and to connect the now-isolated Wagamon’s West Shore subdivision into Milton using an abandoned railroad right-of-way, will break ground next year.

Part of the new pathway will cross the Ingrams Branch river in Milton where an old wooden railroad bridge has long sat abandoned and hidden behind years of overgrown weeds. One of the central uncertainties of the project was whether this old bridge was still structurally sound enough to be re-purposed for a bike trail. DelDOT investigated this issue earlier this year and determined that the old bridge was still sound and could have a happy second career as part of Milton’s growing “low stress” bicycle network.

Like most awesome new bicycle infrastructure being built in Delaware, the new Milton Trail project will be managed by DelDOT and funded using transportation capital funds from the federal government. But the project would not be moving forward without critical financial backing from State Senator Ernie Lopez, who is providing half of the critical local matching funds that the federal government requires by law.

WRDE reporter Mallory Metzner recently interviewed Senator Lopez and Milton Town Manager Kristy Rogers about the project:

 

 

6 Responses

  1. joel Schwaber says:

    Any chance we can get a GPS map on this bridge?

  2. Reber says:

    Thank-you ernie …….

  3. Elaine says:

    Thank you so much for your support regarding this project. Not only does this project allow citizens to gain recreational opportunities, it may also promote tourism and support of local businesses in the town of Milton that would not be possible otherwise.

  4. Josephheilk says:

    hwvq Delta

  5. Frank Dukes says:

    Wondering what the status of the trail is one year out..
    Is it near completion?

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