Jonesborough leaders move forward with expanding its trails toward Tweetsie

JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Jonesborough Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BMA) discussed its ongoing trail project during a meeting Monday to eventually connect the Tweetsie Trail in Johnson City to the Oldest Town in Tennessee.

Gov. Lee’s 2024-25 budget allocated $2.4 million for the First Frontier Trail , which refers to the Tweetsie Trail’s expansion.

A letter of agreement for the initial project titled “First Frontier Trail Phase 1” was approved by the BMA during Monday’s meeting.

Jonesborough Mayor Chuck Vest told News Channel 11 that the approval during the meeting officially puts the project into gear.

“So we’re going to complete them (trails) faster now, and the hope is to connect to the Tweetsie Trail up in Johnson City at some point,” Vest said.

“But it’s also going to be a great quality of life, a benefit to the people, whether they can ride their bikes on these trails or they can walk only trails. It’s a great way to kind of bring the community a little bit closer together.”

The Tweetsie Trail currently spans around 10 miles through Johnson City and Elizabethton. Carter County leaders are working to expand the trail on the Hampton end, and now with Monday’s approval, Jonesborough has formally signaled its intent to develop toward the west end of the trail.

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