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High Bridge Trail manager outlines progress and obstacles to westward extension toward Burkeville
Summary
High Bridge Trail State Park manager Daniel Jordan briefed the board on progress toward extending trail access to Burkeville, saying Norfolk Southern property and an at-grade crossing remain key hurdles and that the park is working with Norfolk Southern and state agencies to advance the project.
Daniel Jordan, park manager for High Bridge Trail State Park, updated the Nottoway County Board of Supervisors on efforts to extend the park and trail westward toward Burkeville.
Jordan said the trail currently comprises 32.2 miles and that about 1.3 miles lie inside Nottoway County. He described the park as a regional recreation and tourism anchor and said his office is working with Norfolk Southern and state partners to clear property and easements needed to extend the western terminus into Burkeville. Jordan said Norfolk Southern donated 31.2 miles of rail corridor, but the park must negotiate remaining parcels and resolve a VDOT at-grade crossing issue and an expired environmental survey before finalizing an alignment into Burkeville.
Jordan told the board the park and its partners view the corridor as an economic engine: past economic studies showed millions of dollars in visitor spending attributable to the trail. He said the park is building relationships with Burkeville and other towns along the corridor to develop trail access and amenities. Jordan said survey and property work are under way and that the agency lacks a definitive timeline but considers the extension a high priority.
What this means: county officials will continue to coordinate with state park staff and Norfolk Southern as property, survey and safety issues are resolved; extending trail access to Burkeville is a multistep effort involving real-property approvals, environmental checks and local coordination on access and parking.
Speakers quoted: Daniel Jordan summarized the park’s view of the corridor as an economic asset and described talking points and next steps during his briefing.
