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Work starts on next phase of Rails to Trails

Posted at 12:16 pm February 20, 2019
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The former CSX railway is pictured near Jefferson Middle School in central Oak Ridge on Dec. 30, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

The former CSX railway is pictured near Jefferson Middle School in central Oak Ridge on Dec. 30, 2016. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

 

Work has started on the next phase of Rails to Trails, a project to convert a former CSX railroad into a bicycle and pedestrian pathway in the center of Oak Ridge.

After about six months of discussions, the City of Oak Ridge has a right of entry, which allows geotechnical and surveying work to be done on the former railroad, said Jon Hetrick, director of the city’s Recreation and Parks Department. Geotechnical work allows holes to be bored in the ground for subsurface studies.

The survey and geotechnical work is being done by A. Morton Thomas and Associates of Kingsport. The Oak Ridge City Council awarded a $358,317 contract to that company in May. A. Morton Thomas is to provide environmental testing, master planning, design and engineering of the trail, and help with construction bidding.

After a Tuesday evening City Council work session, Hetrick said the geotechnical and survey work is required under the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA. The city hopes to have the NEPA phase approved through the Tennessee Department of Transportation by August, Hetrick said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, Government, Government, Oak Ridge, Recreation, Slider, Sports, State Tagged With: A. Morton Thomas and Associates, bicycle and pedestrian pathway, City of Oak Ridge, CSX, CSX Railroad, geotechnical and surveying work, Jon Hetrick, Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization, National Environmental Policy Act, NEPA, Oak Ridge City Council, pedestrian and bicycle trail, Rails-to-Trails, Recreation and Parks Department, TDOT, TDOT grant, TDOT Transportation Alternatives Program, Tennessee Department of Transportation, TPO, trail

Cumberland Trail work/hike scheduled for Saturday, March 21

Posted at 8:04 pm March 17, 2015
By Dawn Huotari Leave a Comment

Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning will sponsor a day of trail work and hiking on Saturday, March 21, on the segment of the Cumberland Trail State Park between Rock Creek Campground and Alley Ford at the Obed Wild and Scenic River. TCWP adopted this 2.5-mile section of the trail in 1998.

“We will concentrate on routine trail maintenance such as cleaning out clogged water bars, removing down logs and limbs, brushing the area along the trail, and finishing up at Alley Ford to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Obed River,” a press release said.

Participants should wear sturdy shoes or boots and bring work gloves, shovels, mattocks or pulaskis, loppers, clippers, and small bow saws or folding saws (Please, no chainsaws). Some hand tools and work gloves will be available at the event. Please bring clothing appropriate for weather conditions, and plenty of water, snacks, and a lunch. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Front Page News, Meetings and Events, Nonprofits, Recreation, Sports Tagged With: Cumberland Trail State Park, Obed River, Obed Wild and Scenic River, Sandra Goss, TCWP, Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning, trail

Rescuers locate trio stranded overnight on Windrock Mountain trail

Posted at 2:50 pm March 5, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff 3 Comments

Rescuers have located three people stranded overnight on Windrock Mountain near Oliver Springs.

The trio—ages 19, 22, and 24 years old—were stuck in vehicles on a trail and called Anderson County 911, authorities said.

“Our dispatch mapped the coordinates and forwarded the information to the rescue squad,” Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said.

He said all three were located. The two men were checked out by EMS at the scene, and the woman was taken to Methodist Medical Center as a precaution. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: Anderson County 911, Anderson County Rescue Squad, Anderson County Sheriff's Department, Mark Lucas, Marlow Fire Department, off-road vehicle trail, Oliver Springs, rescue crews, trail, Windrock Mountain, WYSH Radio

Signs installed for Top Secret Trail that stops in Oak Ridge

Posted at 12:44 pm December 23, 2013
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Top Secret Trail Signs

The Tennessee Department of Transportation has recently installed signs for a new “top secret” 465-mile, self-guided driving trail that stops in Oak Ridge.

The brown signs were erected to direct visitors and curious local travelers along this important tourism route, a state press release said. They lead travelers to picturesque views in the Upper Cumberland and the “inside scoop on the state’s biggest secret.”

The Top Secret trail has 111 stops within Knox, Anderson, Campbell, Overton, Fentress, Morgan, Scott, Clay, Roane, and Pickett counties, giving visitors extensive history, culture, music, and cuisine experiences. The trail is part of the 16 Discover Tennessee Trails and Byways, an initiative by the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, connecting Tennessee’s 95 counties to encourage guests to travel “off the beaten path” and to explore treasures of the state.

“Start the trip off at the site of the 1982 World’s Fair at World’s Fair Park, home to the world-famous Sunsphere, one of the only two remaining original fair structures,” the press release said. “Travel through the Upper Cumberland region, where guests can find out why Oak Ridge is considered Tennessee’s ‘secret city,’ the smallest library in the United States in Coalfield, and Tanners Café, Sundries & Antiques, housed in a 1906 bank that still has the original vault. Learn the history and culture of the region by stopping off at Old Union Meeting House, which is one of the oldest in the country and the Museum of Scott County, the only one of its kind created and curated by high school students. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Government, Oak Ridge, State Tagged With: Coalfield, Discover Tennessee Trails and Byways, driving trail, Katy Brown, Norris Dam State Park, Oak Ridge, Secret City, Sunsphere, TDTD, Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, Tennessee Department of Transportation, top secret, Top Secret Trail, trail, Upper Cumberland, Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, World's Fair Park

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Classifieds

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

Public notice: Draft environmental assessment for Y-12 Development Organization at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

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