Ribbon Cutting To Open New Palmetto Trail Bridge
Palmetto Conservation Foundation (PCF) will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new state-of-the-art pedestrian bridge across Indian Creek on Enoree Passage of the Palmetto Trail. The new fiberglass bridge protects sensitive wildlife habitats and provides safe passage for hikers and bicyclists traveling through Sumter National Forest between Newberry and Laurens counties.
With funding from Dominion Carolina Gas Transmission and the state, Palmetto Conservation built the new 50-foot, fiberglass pedestrian bridge on the southern section of Enoree Passage. The new bridge replaces a wooden structure that washed away in a storm four years after a troop of Boy Scouts built it. Hundreds of hikers, backpackers, mountain bikers, bird watchers, and seasonal hunters use the 36-mile Enoree Passage each month. The Indian Creek watershed is undergoing wildlife habitat restoration, and the bridge will protect bottomland habitats while allowing Trail users to cross the creek at all times. The bridge complies with accessibility standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“We are delighted to cut the ribbon to open the new Palmetto Trail bridge across Indian Creek,” PCF Executive Director Natalie Britt said. “We are grateful to our partners in the US Forest Service and Dominion Carolina for their support of this essential project. Thanks also to our contractor and volunteers who helped build a structure that is expected to last for 20 years or more.”
“A cornerstone of Dominion’s community commitment is to enhance the quality of life wherever we operate. We are excited about this partnership with the Palmetto Conservation Foundation and their work to complete the Palmetto Trail,” said Keith Windle, general manager-Dominion Carolina Gas Transmission. Dominion acquired Carolina Gas Transmission in 2015 from SCANA Corporation.
The public is welcome at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, which will begin at 10 a.m. at the bridge. Speakers will include Ms. Britt; Grady Johnson, PCF Board of Directors Vice Chair and President and Group Publisher, SC Biz News; Forest Supervisor Rick Lint, Enoree District, Sumter National Forest, US Forest Service; and Kristen Beckham, External Affairs Representative, Dominion Carolina Gas & Transmission.
The Palmetto Trail is the longest trail and the largest trail construction project in South Carolina, with approximately 360 miles completed and another 140 miles planned. From the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Intracoastal Waterway, the Trail winds through 14 counties—Oconee, Pickens, Greenville, Spartanburg, Union, Laurens, Newberry, Fairfield, Richland, Sumter, Clarendon, Orangeburg, Berkeley and Charleston. Multiple passages and trailheads make accessing this free public resource easy from anywhere in the state. As it meanders, the Trail’s 27 passages connect state parks, national forests, Revolutionary War battlefields, county recreation areas, and historic military posts. The Trail showcases the state’s diverse natural beauty, fascinating history, and rich cultural heritage.
The Palmetto Trail inspires active, healthy living. Built as a series of passages, the Trail is accessible for day trips, weekend jaunts, and longer treks. Passages lead users along wilderness and backwoods paths, urban bikeways, converted rail-trails, greenways, country roads, and even the steps of the State Capitol. Visit www.palmettoconservation.org for information and downloadable maps.
About Dominion Carolina Gas Transmission
Dominion (NYSE: D) is one of the nation’s largest producers and transporters of energy. The Dominion Foundation is dedicated to improving the physical, social and economic well being of the communities served by Dominion companies, including Dominion Carolina Gas Transmission. The Foundation supports nonprofit causes that meet basic human needs, protect the environment, support education and promote community vitality. For more information about Dominion, visit www.dom.com.
Copyright © Palmetto Conservation Foundation, 2016. Used by permission.
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