With the arrival of spring, many residents and visitors may be wondering about the status of repairs to the pedestrian bridge along the Ringgold Rail Trail.

Since the damage that occurred in 2018 from Tropical Storm Michael and the flooding of Sandy Creek, the cost to repair the bridge has increased substantially. Therefore, Pittsylvania County is requesting a budget amendment from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to increase the amount awarded to the County by more than $2 million.

The budget amendment request process requires multiple reviews at the federal level, particularly when the amendment request is a sizeable one such as this and it is anticipated that County staff will hear if it is approved this spring. Once approved, the repair construction project can be put out for bids.
The County has already secured $3.3 million from FEMA to aid in the repairs.

The bridge repair project also requires the recordation of documentation related to the bridge’s history and current condition, given the bridge’s historical significance as part of the Richmond and Danville Railroad System that dates to the 1800s. This recordation process is currently being conducted by Stantec.

To learn more about the Ringgold Rail Trail, click here.