ATT bridges still stalled

Jim Suiter in Chapel Hill writes: "I'm wondering what the plans are, if any, to bridge across two creeks on the American Tobacco Trail south of I-40. I realize there's a lot of attention focused on the span over I-40 near Southpoint, but to me the most bang for the buck at this point would be to finish bridges over two creeks (Panther and Northeast, I believe)."

You want the good news or the not-quite-as-good news first, Jim?

The good news is that money has been allotted to complete the 4.6-mile stretch of the ATT through Chatham County. The ATT is a 22-mile rails-to-trails project that will eventually run from downtown Durham south through Chatham County to New Hill in southwestern Wake County. Nearly all of the trail -- a little more than 20 miles -- is open, but three missing bridges keep the trail from being significantly greater than the sum of its parts: a pedestrian bridge over I-40 at the Streets at Southpoint mall in Durham and the two bridges Jim inquires about.

About $1.6 million for completion of the bridges over Panther Creek and over Northeast Creek -- replacing trestles from the old rail line the ATT follows -- was included in a 2005 federal transportation spending bill.

The not-quite-as-good news comes from Tracy Burnett, director of Chatham County Parks and Recreation: "We're in a planning place right now."

That is, Chatham County is negotiating specifics of its portion of the trail with the state Department of Transportation, which is overseeing this section of the ATT, and the town of Cary, which is chipping in some parking access.

Those specifics leave up in the air two things: when those bridges will be finished and when Chatham County's 4.6-mile stretch will be officially connected to Wake's 5.75 miles to the south and to the 3 miles of Durham County ATT that ends just north of Massey Chapel Road. (The trail picks up about a mile farther, running to downtown Durham; more about that in a moment.)

What we do know comes from Bill Bussey, president of the Triangle Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, the volunteer group that has been spearheading the trail since the late 1980s. About half of the Chatham County trail will be 10-foot-wide compacted gravel screening (similar to Wake's stretch), about half will be 10-foot-wide asphalt with an adjacent 6-foot-wide compacted screening surface.

Regarding the Panther Creek and Northeast Creek bridges, Jim observes that, although the rails have been removed, the trestles are still in place. "I'm no civil engineer, but it seems that with the existing trestles a crew could construct a safe crossing in a very short time."

Alas, a structural analysis of both bridges found them to be unsound, even for foot-hoof-and-tire traffic. They'll need to be replaced.

With the exception of the two trestles, the Chatham stretch is open, though signs warn that the trail is under construction and to proceed at your own risk.

Despite some messiness, Bussey says this stretch is a gem.

"This section arguably is the most attractive of the 22-mile trail," Bussey says. Here, the old railbed is more elevated over the surrounding forest, offering good sight lines.

"Fall is gorgeous," Bussey says. "Right now it's very peaceful."

Reader Jim also mentioned the I-40 pedestrian bridge, the building of which has been mired in bureaucracy. Completion of the bridge -- and a mile-long stretch to the south through the Streets at Southpoint -- would link the existing 6.5 miles of ATT from downtown Durham with Chatham County.

We put Jim's question to Bussey.

"The Durham process is moving along," Bussey said with a note of optimism. Bussey says the span is expected to be discussed at a Durham City Council meeting this month.

Pressed for details on what might happen at that meeting, Bussey demurred, saying only, "Expect something good."