East Coast Greenway celebrates key groundbreaking for Virginia’s Fall Line
On Oct. 7, the East Coast Greenway Alliance joined the Virginia Department of Transportation, The First Gentleman Adam Spanberger, Virginia Deputy Secretary of Transportation Dr. Laura Schewel, as well as project partners and local officials to celebrate the groundbreaking of a nearly 10-mile southern section of the Fall Line Trail, marking the next step toward a 43-mile East Coast Greenway segment connecting communities from Petersburg to Ashland.
This 9.5-mile section will connect Petersburg, Colonial Heights and Chesterfield County, and will feature eight bridges, including a crossing of the Appomattox River. The Fall Line Trail is a key part of the East Coast Greenway spine route through the Commonwealth, and this project marks the longest section of the planned trail to be constructed at one time.
According to VDOT, “the southern section is expected to be completed in the winter of 2028. The northernmost Fall Line Trail segments are already open, including in the Town of Ashland, Hanover County and trail sections in Henrico County.”
“In my travels across the Commonwealth, Virginians keep telling me that they’re looking for opportunities to spend time in nature and connect with their community. The Fall Line Trail does both beautifully. I’m especially excited that this trail will one day connect nearly a hundred schools, creating healthier, more active opportunities for students across the region,” said Spanberger.
“The Fall Line Trail represents what is possible when communities and transportation partners work together toward a shared vision,” said Dale Totten, Richmond District Engineer at VDOT. “Today’s groundbreaking is an important milestone, but the real impact will be measured in the connections this trail creates for residents, families, businesses and visitors for generations to come.”
The Fall Line will form the spine of the East Coast Greenway through the Richmond metropolitan area, connecting the Town of Ashland to the City of Petersburg. This 43-mile trail traverses seven localities and two planning districts in a region of 1.3 million people. When complete, the Fall Line will connect rural, suburban and urban parts of the region and link to two major regional Trails (Virginia Capital Trail, Appomattox River Trail) that form the connections to the East Coast Greenway spine and complementary routes in Virginia.
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