Lycoming News

Clinton County issued the following announcement on Apr. 5.

It was a short work session filled with updates regarding a major county project for the Clinton County Commissioners.

Community Planner Matt Croak provided a timeline on the completion of phase 4 of the Bald Eagle Valley Trail project that is underway in Wayne Township.

"I was told on March 23 that (Glenn O.) Hawbaker is back at it again," Croak said. "Right now, we're expecting them to be done by June of this year."

Hawbaker intended to start earlier but were put on hold for the Bald Eagle nesting season.

Croak said the project saw delays last summer due to difficulties with acquiring materials and man power. "A lot of things that COVID impacted. So hopefully they'll be done by June," he said.

The largest portion of phase 4, of the six phase project, is rehabilitating the railroad bridge which crosses from Wayne Township into Pine Creek Township.

"Once the bridge is complete ... the project will connect Wayne Township over into Pine Creek Township," Croak said.

The over $2 million rehabilitation project is being fund mostly through a TAP (Transportation Alternatives Program) Grant by PennDOT with some funding coming from a Community Partnerships Grant via DCNR and the county's Act 13 Bridge Fund.

From there, phase 5 will take place and see construction along Old River Road.

"Phase 5 runs along Old River Road which connects us to the Tiadaghton Elm (and) ultimately to the Jersey Shore rail trail," Croak said.

Engineering and design for the fifth phase is underway. "Everything is looking very positive for phase five," Croak said.

Phase 6, the final step in this multi-year project, is being surveyed and planned by McTish Kunkel & Associates.

Outside of trail construction, Croak said the county is working with Castanea Township to have a storage shed placed near the trailhead. The shed, constructed by Pine Creek Structures, was paid for through a grant from the Clinton County Community Foundation.

"Essentially we're going to use that to house the tractor and a lot of our maintenance items we need for the trail to address some of our needs during the busier months," Croak said.

The county is waiting for Castanea to level the ground and get it prepared for the delivery. This could take place in the next three weeks or so, Croak said.

On the topic of trail maintenance, Croak touched on the Friends of the Bald Eagle Valley Trail's volunteer work.

Croak called the all-volunteer organization a "huge asset" and said members recently complete work on Saturday, April 2.

Litter pick-up and placement of concrete pads for benches were the major projects of the day.

"I think we placed one in the Spook Hollow Road section and a few in the Wayne Township side," Croak said of the concrete pads.

The benches, which were donated by the Friends of the BEVT, will be placed during the group's next volunteer day in October.

"We're always looking for more volunteers," Croak said. "If you want to be involved ... the next meeting for the Friends of the Bald Eagle Valley Trail will take place on May 10."

Croak said the group typically meets either in the Piper Building or, when the weather is nice, at the pavilion outside.

Those who'd like to get involved prior to the meeting may join the group's Facebook page "Friends of the Bald Eagle Valley Trail."

The commissioners will hold a voting session on Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Piper Building. The meeting will also be live streamed on the county's Facebook page.

Original source can be found here.