Plans are underway to redesign Downingtown’s Trestle Bridge as part of long-term plans to extend the Chester Valley Trail, writes Brooke Schultz for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The historic bridge has been out of commission since the 1980s, sitting untouched across the east Brandywine River. Stretching 1,450 feet long and 130 feet high, the structure will now become part of the grand reimagining of the 19-mile Chester Valley Trail.
County officials shared that the project will be quite the undertaking. George Martynick, director of Chester County’s facilities and parks department, dubbed the Trestle Bridge’s role in the trail revamp “the keystone of the project.”
The Trestle renovation will begin with safety inspections over the next several months. The redesign is expected to begin next year, with subsequent construction expected to last five to seven years.
This next stage for the bridge comes after years of controversy, as the bridge presents various safety concerns. Last year, county commissioners voted to purchase the bridge from PennDOT for $1, and renewed plans for its future began.
So far, the county has received three grants to move forward with the project, including two $500,000 grants from the state department of conservation and natural resources and a $200,000 grant from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission.
The county has matched the state grants to invest at total of $2.2 million in the bridge’s overall redesign.
Read more about the Downingtown Trestle Bridge and the bridge’s ongoing renovation in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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