Closed since 2020, Heritage Rail Trail protection canopy is completed

Paul Kuehnel, York Daily Record
Updated ·1 min read

A protection canopy has been installed on the Heritage Rail Trail between Emig Road and Route 30 after work began on the project in September 2022. The trail was shut down at the Norfolk Southern Blackbridge Railroad Bridge in 2020 due to falling debris.

One of the major holdups in constructing the canopy was pandemic-related sourcing of a special wire needed on the top of the structure, rail trail authority executive director Gwen Loose said

Looking north on April 10th, The protection canopy has been competed under the Norfolk Southern Blackbridge Railroad Bridge on the Heritage Rail Trail. The trail has been officially closed since 2020 due to falling debris.
Looking north on April 10th, The protection canopy has been competed under the Norfolk Southern Blackbridge Railroad Bridge on the Heritage Rail Trail. The trail has been officially closed since 2020 due to falling debris.

Paving needs to be completed through the workspace before an official opening. Once the connection is make, the entire section will be turned over to the York County Heritage Rail Trail, Loose added.

Looking south on April 5th, The protection canopy has been competed under the Norfolk Southern Blackbridge Railroad Bridge on the Heritage Rail Trail. The trail has been officially closed since 2020 due to falling debris.
Looking south on April 5th, The protection canopy has been competed under the Norfolk Southern Blackbridge Railroad Bridge on the Heritage Rail Trail. The trail has been officially closed since 2020 due to falling debris.

The exact location of the closure is one mile north of the Route 30 trailhead parking lot and 1.5 miles south of Emig/Mundis Mill roads. The trail has been used to this location from either direction, but signage at the bridge tells people to turn around.

Spring grass is lush and green along the Codorus Creek on Easter while looking south on the rail trail towards York city and the Route 30 bridge.
Spring grass is lush and green along the Codorus Creek on Easter while looking south on the rail trail towards York city and the Route 30 bridge.

Work began in September 2022 to construct a protection canopy over the Heritage Rail Trail at this Norfolk Southern Blackbridge Railroad Bridge, as required by the railroad, according to a York County Rail Trail post last year.

More in the area: Historic limestone kiln in Manchester Township to be demolished

The footings hold a metal supports with cables and a canopy will protect people passing under the bridge. "It will look a lot like a carport," Loose said last month.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Heritage Rail Trail will soon reopen at Blackbridge with canopy