Trails committee replaces bridge

In early September, Charlotte Trails Committee members Jack Pilla and Chris Boffa finished building a new bridge on the mowed path along Ferry Road to replace one that had been damaged repeatedly by flooding — most recently in July.

Pilla designed and did much of the work on the new bridge, which sits higher than its predecessor on large concrete blocks generously donated by Ward Preston. Unlike the old structure, which Sam Zimmerman built as part of an Eagle Scout project a dozen years ago, the new one is attached to supporting steel beams to help keep it in place when storm waters rise.

The bridge spans a drainage along Ferry Road midway between Greenbush and Lake roads, providing an important link in the town’s plan to connect the west village and the town beach.

The trails committee is working to connect the northern end of the Village Loop Trail, which was built last year, to this mowed path that is colloquially known as the Cowboy Lewis Trail.

Thanks to volunteer labor and frugal shopping, the new bridge cost less than $1,000 — several thousand dollars less than if the town had used a commercial contractor.

The trails committee has deep gratitude to all of those involved in the project, including road commissioner Junior Lewis and his team for providing gravel for the new bridge approaches and for helping over the years to reposition the original span after flooding.

It also thanks Jenny and Dan Cole who recently joined Pilla, Hoffa, Stephen Hale and Bill Regan to cart away the old bridge and clear brush that impedes the flow of stormwater under the bridge.

Finally, the committee is also thankful to Charlotte taxpayers and individual contributors to the trails committee’s annual fundraising campaign for their generosity, which makes possible this work.

Other trail improvements
The trails committee has added some new amenities this year besides the bridge, including a bench near the top of the Barber Hill section of the Village Loop Trail. Pilla designed and built the bench as a memorial to his daughter, Ashley. He donated his time and all the materials, including reclaimed wood from a local barn.

Separately, Hale, a certified naturalist, has posted some tree identification signs to help users learn about the trees along our trails.

Trail repairs in progress
This month, trails committee volunteers David Ziegelman and Richard Hendrickson repaired water bars on Pease Mountain.

Water bars help channel rainwater away from trails, reducing erosion. Some of the water bars were overwhelmed by the July rains.

Sections of the Town Link Trail remain damaged by the July flooding, especially east of the Route 7 underpass.

Matt Looft volunteered his time and equipment to clear the gravel out of the underpass.

Several other Charlotters offered their time, equipment and money to help repair the deep gouges caused by the flooding and to spread new gravel. The trails committee plans to update the town when the work is done.

In the meantime, it urges all trail users to continue to exercise caution in damaged areas.

(Bill Regan is a member of the board of directors of The Charlotte News. The views expressed here are his own and not necessarily those of the board or the organization.)