News
Coleman Road Section of Manhan Rail Trail Inches Forward
July, 2010: While frustrating delays have plagued the plans to build the southern stretch of the Manhan Rail Trail from South Street to Coleman Road, the project is moving forward. The EPA, former owner WR Grace and current owner Olden Properties have agreed to clean up the asbestos along the trail bed. While the exact timeline is uncertain, the clean up is expected to begin this fall with the priority area to be completed by December. This would allow the bike path and sewer line construction to start by midwinter or spring and be completed six to nine months after that.
Tighe & Bond submitted the 100% design to MassDOT in late April, following a public hearing held at White Brook Middle School in March. The engineering firm is still working on obtaining and addressing comments from the State. The goal was to bid the project during the current fiscal year of the Federal Highway Administration which ends September 30th.
Rail Trail Link to Northampton Under Construction
Updated Aug. 25, 2010: Abutments for the Manhan Rail Trail bridge over Route 10 are nearly complete and it is hoped that the bridge itself will be dropped in within the next few months. The bridge is a key piece to the trail connector being constructed between Easthampton and Northampton.
One of the newly paved sections of the Easthampton-Northampton connector in a photo taken in late November 2009 (courtesy Peter Brooks)
The $4.6 million project is being funded primarily through federal stimulus money. Five construction bids were submitted and opened August 25, 2009. Mass Highway awarded the contract and preliminary work began in October.
This link will connect the extension of the bike path in Northampton which ends at Earle Street near the Smith College Equestrian Center, and Easthampton’s Manhan Rail Trail at the intersection of Ferry Street and Pleasant Street.
The design for the trail’s Manhan Bridge, adjacent to Lovefield Street, which is not part of the Manhan Rail Trail contract, is also underway. Design delays have altered the schedule somewhat, but the bridge project is scheduled to be advertised in September.
Connecting the two cities by a rail trail was identified as a top priority in the recently completed Easthampton Master Plan.
Community Rallies to Raise Funds for Repairs
The Friends of the Manhan Rail Trail would like to extend sincere thanks to the many individuals, organizations and businesses who have helped to raise money for the repair of the trail at the site of the washed out culvert near the Oxbow. While the sinkhole itself was paid for by municipal funds, the Friends raised the estimated $15,000 needed to rebuild the trail including pavement and fencing.
Manhan Rail Trail volunteers sell merchandise at Derrill's Race to raise money for repairs at the sinkhole site near the Oxbow.
We would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Shelley Wilton and the Derrill’s Race Committee. The trail fund was the major recipient of the proceeds from last year’s race.
A big thank you also to Casey Douglas from the Apollo Grill for the fantastically successful fundraising breakfast during Bike Commute Week.
We also thank Clay Crow for donating his T-shirt design and Mantis Graphics for their discounted shirts.
Thank you to Alexei Levine from the Message School in Easthampton for donating a day’s worth of revenue.
Our thanks to Ginni Hurteau for offering 40% of the proceeds from Avon sales and thanks to Randy Counsman who donated his famous sinkhole photo and banner.
We also thank the students at Center Elementary School (see story and photo below) for their bottle and can collection.
If you would like to help out, we still have our special edition Manhan Rail Trail tote bags on sale for $5.00 at the City Clerk’s office (50 Payson Ave.) We thank you all for your continued support!