- Cranesnest Trail - Coming Soon!
August 22, 2005
(Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Representative Rick Boucher announced today
that the U.S. Congress has approved and the President has signed into law
a federal appropriation which he requested in the amount of $520,000 to
construct the Cranesnest Trail in Dickenson County. "The federal funding
will enable the development and construction of a trail which will highlight
an area in Dickenson County rich in both natural beauty and historical significance,"
Boucher said.
Once completed, the Cranesnest Trail will lead from Route 83 to the John
Flannagan Reservoir and will stretch a total of 16 miles. The trail will
be a multi-use hiking, biking and horse trail. Final development plans are
underway for the first phase of the project. The first phase includes the
construction of the trail from Route 83, East of Clintwood, to the day-use
area at the Cranesnest Campground. At Route 83, a trail head and parking
area will be constructed to facilitate easy public access. The first phase
is being constructed along a coal mining strip bench and will utilize federal
highway funds.
The second and third phases will be constructed using the federal funding
which is being announced today. Phase II will construct the trail leading
from the Cranesnest Campground along the existing Cranesnest Campground
Road. This portion will be approximately 2 miles in length and will stretch
the entire length of Cranesnest Campground Road. The third phase will construct
the final portion of the trail leading from the Campground Road along a
strip bench to the John W Flannagan Reservoir.
Boucher noted that the Cranesnest Trail will be developed on property
with historical significance for Dickenson County. "The Route 83 trail
head will be constructed very near an area that was used as a campground
by soldiers during the Civil War," he said.
"The development and construction of the Cranesnest Trail will provide
a new opportunity to encourage new tourism growth in Dickenson County. I
am pleased that Congress has honored my request and is providing this significant
allocation of federal funding," Boucher concluded.
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