A key step in bringing the two separate sections of the Dryden Rail Trail together occurred on October 22. A bridge over Route 13 in Varna was constructed and installed, allowing bicycles and pedestrians to safely cross over the high-speed road.
The bridge’s installation, as well as the finishing of 1.5 adjacent miles of trail to Pinckney Road in Etna this year, mean the gap between the two portions of trail is getting smaller. Later this year, it will allow a complete trip between Etna and the City of Ithaca, via the East Ithaca Recreation Way, which the trail connects with at its Western trailhead.
“The Route 13 bridge is the linchpin of the Dryden Rail Trail,” Dryden Deputy Town Supervisor Dan Lamb said in a press release. “Beyond recreation and transportation alternatives—the basis for several grants—we expect the trail to encourage smart growth, improve access to affordable housing, and attract new businesses and tourism.”
When complete, the trail will extend over fourteen miles, linking Ithaca, Varna, Etna, Freeville, and Dryden.
The completion of the bridge is a small step in better connecting the county for users on foot and bicycle. The Tompkins Priority Trails Strategy Update in 2023 outlined a proposed trail network that would link the Dryden Rail Trail, East Ithaca Recreation Way, Black Diamond Trail, and South Hill Recreation Way.
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