A new segment of the Eastern Shore Trail is about 80% complete with the extension to be finished by November, county officials said. The extension will add 1.84-miles to the trail, which currently spans 23 miles.

The extension begins from Fish River bridge and expands through Pleasant View Lane, connecting to the rest of the trail system. The new segment consists of an 8-foot-wide asphalt trail built alongside U.S. 98 within the right of way. Once finished, the trail system will be an approximate 24.8 miles.

The program is funded primarily through a $2 million Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant, Public Information and Communications specialist for the Baldwin County Commission Taylor Bufkin said.

"The $2 million TAP grant primarily funds construction of the new 1.84-mile trail segment, including the paved path, boardwalk structures, grading and site work," she said. "Engineering,

environmental review and inspection services are funded separately through the county's roadway and infrastructure programs."

This location was selected due to the trail's continuation eastward from Fish River bridge, Bufkin said.

"It closes a key gap in the network, improves safety along U.S. 98 and advances long-term connectivity toward Magnolia Springs," she said.

Safety along U.S. 98 is also a priority of this project, as the new section is designed to give people traveling by bicycle or by foot security and separation from ongoing traffic.

The Pleasant View Lane extension is part of a broader effort to expand the Eastern Shore trail beyond its existing route. The purpose of the trail system is to provide a connected pathway for walking and cycling across the Eastern Shore as an alternative to vehicular transport.

"This extension moves the Eastern Shore Trail one step closer to Magnolia Springs and ultimately Foley. As the trail connects with Foley's larger sidewalk and trail network, multiple opportunities will open for regional multimodal connectivity," Bufkin said.

The county has already secured funding for the next phase of the project, which would expand the trail from Pleasant View Lane into Magnolia Springs.

"The county has been approved for another TAP Grant to extend the trail from Pleasant View Lane to Magnolia Springs Highway," Bufkin said. "Through the 30 Cubed partnership with Magnolia Springs, a multi-use path is also planned along Magnolia Springs Highway from U.S. 98 to Magnolia River."

Once the new segment opens, residents and visitors will be able to access it from various entrance points.

"The trail is free and accessible at multiple locations along its route," Bufkin said. "We expect it to increase recreational access, provide a safer option for walking and biking and improve multimodal connectivity between Eastern Shore communities."

Through the expansion of Pleasant View lane into Magnolia Springs, the county expects the trail to continue growing southbound in order to provide more connectivity throughout the Eastern Shore and into Central Baldwin, supporting recreation within the county as well as alternative transportation.

"This extension moves the Eastern Shore Trail one step closer to Magnolia Springs and ultimately Foley. As the trail connects with Foley's larger sidewalk and trail network, multiple opportunities will open for regional multimodal connectivity," Bufkin said.

Parking options and trail access points can be found at: https://baldwincountytrailblazers.org/eastern-shore-trail. 

Gabriella Chavez is a Report for America corps member who writes about growth and development in Baldwin County and our natural spaces for Gulf Coast Media. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today.