Answer Woman: Do Ecusta Trail pedestrian bridges have hazards? Where will parking be?

Today’s burning questions center around the Ecusta Trail that will connect Hendersonville to Brevard.

Have other questions for our staff? Email Executive Editor Karen Chávez at KChavez@citizentimes.com and your question could appear in an upcoming column.

Question: I’m looking at the photos of the new bridges I see that the walking/riding surface is wood. As you may know, water on wood produces a very slippery hazard which gets worse over time. Will the bridge surfaces have a non-slip material added? Also, can you find out when the uneven railroad tracks will be removed from the Kanuga Road crossing in Hendersonville?

Question: We are very excited to have (the Ecusta Trail) coming to our area and we are looking forward to using the trail once it opens to the public. One question I still have and can’t seem to find any info about is the parking plans for the new trail. Are there plans for public parking lots at different access points along the trail?

Answer: Earlier this month, six bridges were installed along the first phase of the Ecusta Trail, a multiuse paved path that will follow the former rail line, stretching for 19 miles to connect Hendersonville and Brevard. These bridges are prefabricated and were built in Alabama before being brought to Henderson County for installation.

Henderson County Engineer Marcus Jones told the Times-News Aug. 14 that these bridges were “specifically designed” for pedestrian traffic and that he’s not sure that slipping would be an issue.

“If it is, of course we will make sure the trail is as safe as possible,” Jones said.

He previously told the Times-News that these six bridges varied in cost with a range between $300,000 and $500,000 depending on its size. The bridges vary in length and are either 14 feet wide in the more urban areas of the county or 12 feet wide in more rural areas.

The six bridges are along:

• Fifth Avenue.
• U.S. 64.
• Allen Street.
• Church and Main streets.
• Old Homestead Road.
• Turley Falls Road and Brightwater Drive.

As for the Kanuga Road crossing, Jones said work will be done on the road, but he does not have a specific date for the construction other than that it will be completed before the projected December opening date of the first phase of the trail.

Jones said that while weather has not been particularly cooperative the past month for construction, the first phase of the project is still on schedule for the December timeline . This first phase will include the first six miles of trail and will go from Hendersonville to Horse Shoe. When the Ecusta Trail is complete, it will stretch 19 miles from Hendersonville to Brevard.

Jones previously told the Times-News that the first six miles of the trail will cost approximately $13 million.

For parking, Jones said there were options. Without any new spaces being constructed, trail users are able to use downtown Hendersonville parking lots and deck as the trailhead is located at the Hendersonville visitors center. The city of Hendersonville also recently repaved and restriped Main Street to add pedestrian and bike lines.

Jones said there were also discussions happening between the Henderson County planning department and local business owners. The idea is to provide advertising for business owners in return for allowing trail users to park at their business. Jones said this is still in the conversation phase of planning.

“But with those two things said, we are definitely looking at places that will be gaps in the parking that we may be able to do some small public parking spaces there,” Jones said. “But we certainly want to give the businesses the opportunity to take advantage of the trail and offer services to the users.”

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Karrigan Monk is the reporter for Black Mountain News and Hendersonville Times-News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kmonk@blackmountainnews.com .

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Answer Woman: Do Ecusta Trail pedestrian bridges have hazards? Where will parking be?