Virginia is advancing the next phase of the Eastern Shore Rail to Trail project following the close of public comment on a proposed 11.3-mile segment between Cheriton and Birdsnest.
The latest installment in the project, managed by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), is a shared-use path for pedestrians and cyclists. It converts the former Bay Coast Railroad corridor into a 10-foot-wide paved trail following the abandoned railbed. The project is divided into a 4.5-mile segment that crosses seven intersections and several culverts and a 6.8-mile segment that crosses six paved roads. It also includes pavement treatments at road intersections and replacement of railroad crossings.
This 11.3-mile path is part of the approximately 49.1-mile rail-to-trail project extending across Northampton and Accomack counties, mostly parallel to Route 13, a VDOT-designated Corridor of Statewide Significance. The trail is expected to improve safety by providing pedestrians and cyclists with a route between Cape Charles and Hallwood that avoids highway traffic.
Located on Virginia’s Eastern Shore along the Delmarva Peninsula, the trail provides access to towns, parks and a wildlife refuge between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Although much of the trail runs inland, users can reach waterfront destinations from several access points. Benches, trailheads, park-and-ride facilities and bus shelters are planned along the route.
The 11.3-mile, $17.8 million segment is scheduled to begin construction in fall 2026 and be completed in 2028. The Cape Charles and Cheriton segments are under construction while additional sections continue through the design phase. VDOT anticipates providing full funding for approximately 36 miles of the trail following approval of its fiscal years 2026-2031 transportation program.
Once completed, the trail will create a continuous corridor connecting communities across Virginia’s Eastern Shore while improving access for residents and tourists to recreational destinations, local businesses and transit facilities.
Photo by John Phelan, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, from Wikimedia Commons
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