Rail Trail work set to begin

Bridge and Manor extension the focus

By Aidan Dusenbury-Dalto | Manor Ink

Sullivan County, NY – The main line of the former New York Ontario & Western Railway runs for 50 miles through the scenic heart of Sullivan County. The goal of the county’s O&W Rail Trail Project is to transform the gentle grades of the former railroad beds into hiking trails that provide an opportunity to explore the beauty of Sullivan County on foot and by bike.

A number of small sections of the Rail Trail already exist, but two major initiatives are planned for this year and next to expand the route. The first is a bridge project over the Neversink River. According to Heather Jacksy, the county’s Director of Planning, “The bridge’s completion would bring about a continuous 14-mile section of the trail between Woodridge and Fallsburg.”

Project cost increases

This has proven to be quite a project, as the cost of the bridge has gone up from preliminary estimates of about $1 million to perhaps $3.5 million. “The cost to do everything has gone up, and detailed engineering work has shown that we have to deal with a very high old trestle and abutments while being ADA compliant,” Jacksy explained. The project is further complicated by the involvement of multiple state agencies as well as the county and local officials. Bids for the bridge work are going to go out this autumn. Construction is planned for next year, with a ribbon cutting expected in fall 2025.

The good news is that funding for the bridge construction has pretty much been secured through a mix of federal and state agencies, as well as a substantial private donation.

The Parksville-Manor extension

The other exciting project closer to home is the planned extension of the Parksville Rail Trail from its current end at Fox Mountain Road all the way to Rotary Park in Livingston Manor. The Town of Rockland and the Village of Liberty are working together to have this completed. Liberty has done the engineering review for its end, and an engineering study for Rockland’s portion is now underway. A significant piece of the project will be a safe crossing at Fox Mountain Road. The Trail will pass the old Sonoma Falls site and will be an asset to the possible reopening of a business there.

Property owners along the route have been cooperating with the project. The completion of this five-mile portion of rrail connecting Parksville and the Manor will be a lovely asset for both the communities and the businesses along Old Rte. 17.

For more information, visit the Sullivan O&W Rail Trail website at sullivanoandw.com.