Recently Completed

What's Being Done

The Chickahominy Riverfront Phase will result in four and one half miles of winding trail beginning at the South exit of the Chickahominy Bridge, Route 5 and ending at the Greenspring Trail, just east of Route 614. The ten (10) foot wide paved path will offer access to the outstanding natural landscape of the area. The Chickahominy Riverfront Phase is part of the Virginia Capital Trail, which upon completion, will extend fifty-four (54) miles connecting the colonial capitol in Williamsburg to the modern state capital in Richmond.

Features

Bridges and Fences:

Adding to the visitor's experience is the addition of a 14-foot wide wood decked bridge extending over the Shellbank Creek and surrounding wetlands. The bridge will allow visitors the opportunity to observe the wildlife, flora and fauna without disturbing the sensitive environment. It's span will total 330 feet and its height will vary from ground level to approximately fifteen (15) feet. The construction of this bridge will begin March, 2006 and be completed in August, 2006. To keep the path safe for pedestrians and bicyclists, hinge and fixed bollards will be installed at all road crossings and at both ends of the bridge to prevent motor vehicle access. For additional safety, a four and one half foot high wood fence will be built along the steep embankments of the trail leading up to both entrances of the bridge.


Protecting Wildlife:

Protecting wildlife and preserving their natural habitat is important at VDOT and steps are being taken to prevent the disturbance of a bald eagle's nest during the building of this section of the Virginia Capital Trail. All construction activities occurring within ¼ mile of the bald eagle nest are prohibited from December 15, 2005 to July 15, 2006. The nest is located close to the eastern end of the project, North of Route 5, just across from the intersection with Route 1101.

Features

Preserving Trees and Planting Projects:

Certain hardwood trees along the construction path for the Capital Trail have been marked with ribbons. These trees will be preserved during construction. VDOT and the contractor made extra efforts to keep these trees safe, shifting the alignment of the trail to accommodate them whenever possible.

In order to construct the trail, workers will need to clear a path through existing trees along the planned route. The trail was designed to avoid some of the most established trees in the area and to disrupt the environment as little as possible.

At times, it may look like more trees are being removed than necessary. National Standards call for a minimum of three (3) feet shoulders on each side of the trail's paved surface, and even wider shoulders may be needed in hilly areas where there are steep downhill slopes, according to Albert Brayan, Certified Landscape Architect for the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Without these shoulders, trees left too close to the edge of the path could pose as a danger for users as fixed objects, particularly for bicyclists. Additionally, many of these trees would die naturally because fill and excess pressure over their root systems would deprive them of water and oxygen. These trees may then become a hazard as they drop limbs and eventually fall over.

Remaining trees that are too close to the pathway, will continue to grow underneath the trail and will eventually cause the pavement to buckle in some areas and become unsafe for users. This has been a problem on other trails around the country that has resulted in expensive maintenance and in some cases having to entirely reconstruct the trails because of damage.

Benefits

This project will create a recreational ten (10) foot wide paved pathway for residents and visitors alike to use and enjoy. An additional three (3) feet of open space on either side of the paved path will create room for moving around. This section of the Virginia Capital Trail will offer bicyclist as well as all recreational users a scenic trip through existing woods, and over the Shellbank Creek and wetlands, preserving this environment for generations to come.

Additional project details >>>

Impact on Traffic

Intermitted flagging

Contacts

Lauren Hansen, 757-925-2583
Tom Druhot, 757-825-7801