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Billy Goat A Trail - Wooden Bridge Deck Replacement

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park » Billy Goat A Trail - Wooden Bridge Deck Replacement » Document List

The National Park Service, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, will replace a missing wooden foot bridge deck, located on the Billy Goat A Trail near Great Falls, Maryland. The purpose of the project is to replace the missing bridge deck, using the bridge's existing footings. The need for the project is to provide a safe stream crossing for trail users and restore the preferred trail pathway, eliminating alternative stream crossings that have developed, impacting the stream and its banks.

The previous bridge, built by an eagle scout, was washed out in February 2010 by flooding. Park staff were unable to recover the bridge deck. The cement footings remain and will be used to anchor the new wooden bridge deck and serve as steps for the bridge. The west bank's footing is structurally stable. The east bank's footing may have some undercutting from flood action. This will be addressed by placement of selected stones within any voids. No in-stream work will undertaken nor will there be any changes to the stream channel.

The new wooden deck will be elevated to avoid impact by flooding. The bottom of the bridge deck will be approximately three feet above the stream bed. Existing bolts within the concrete footings will be removed and new anchors will be installed. There will not be any change in the bridge location or footprint. Work will be accomplished by the park's trail staff.

The park's Interdisciplinary Team reviewed the project for impacts to natural and cultural resources. The project does not pose any serious or long-term effects to the environmental, historical, cultural, archeological, or visual resources. It meets categorical exclusion #C.8 – Replacement in kind of minor structures and facilities with little or no change in location, capacity, or appearance.

Upon review under the National Historic Preservation Act/Section 106 Programmatic Agreement, no historic properties will be affected.


Contact Information

For further information regarding this project, please contact the Chief of Partnerships and Volunteers, 1850 Dual Highway, Suite 100, Hagerstown, MD 21740.