A Unique Trail
The name derives from the fact that the trail links the three capitals of the British Colony of Virginia and the Commonwealth of Virginia after independence, for a total of over 400 years.
Unlike many rail trail projects which utilize former railroad rights-of-way, no railroad was ever built along this corridor. Instead, the Virginia Capital Trail essentially parallels the north shore of the James River and Virginia Route 5 approximately 54 miles (87 km) between the two cities, from the Capitol in Colonial Williamsburg through portions of James City County, Charles City County, and Henrico County to the current Virginia State Capitol in Richmond.
The trail will utilize the new Judith Stewart Dresser Bridge which crosses the Chickahominy River at the 1634 border of James City and Charles City counties. The $33.6 million fixed span bridge is a replacement for an older movable swing-span bridge. It was specifically designed to include a 10-foot (3.0 m) shared-use path (separated from the main roadway by a divider) for the Virginia Capital Trail's users.
Read more about this topic: Virginia Capital Trail
Famous quotes containing the words unique and/or trail:
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—Sarah Houghton, U.S. librarian. As quoted in Working, book 9, by Studs Terkel (1973)
“In one notable instance, where the United States Army and a hundred years of persuasion failed, a highway has succeeded. The Seminole Indians surrendered to the Tamiami Trail. From the Everglades the remnants of this race emerged, soon after the trail was built, to set up their palm-thatched villages along the road and to hoist tribal flags as a lure to passing motorists.”
—For the State of Florida, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)