The company rebuilding the Virginia Creeper Trail plans to involve as many residents as it can and will start by putting local bike businesses — which normally transport bikers to the top of the trail — back to work shuttling workers to and from the job sites, according to the project manager.
“We are trying to bring in as much local involvement as humanly possible,” said Luke Silvus, a project manager with Kiewit Infrastructure South Co.
Earlier this month, Kiewit Corp. was awarded the $240 million contract to rebuild the half of the Creeper Trail that was severely damaged by Hurricane Helene.
During a community meeting Tuesday night that drew nearly 500 people to Holston High School, Silvus provided the company’s first overview of the reconstruction project. He said the project will involve 18 miles of trail, repairs to 17 slope failures along the trail and the replacement or repair of 33 trestles.
It was Sept. 27, 2024, when Helene brought flooding and high winds that destroyed and damaged homes and businesses in the Damascus area, smashed bridges and chewed up nearly a mile of U.S. 58, which has since been rebuilt.
The upper half of the trail from Damascus to Whitetop Station was severely impacted, with all the trestles destroyed or damaged and much of the path just washed away. This section, which is owned by the U.S. Forest Service, remains closed.
The first half of the trail, from Abingdon to Damascus, sustained only minor damage and reopened within days. That section is owned by the two towns.
The trail has been described as the economic “lifeblood” for most of the nearly 800 residents of Damascus, which is known as “Trail Town USA.” Prior to the storm, the trail drew 250,000 visitors each year. Silvus presented slides that included an early rendering of a bridge that will replace Trestle 20. He predicted it could be one of the most photographed spots on the rebuilt trail.
“The Forest Service has asked for an iconic structure, and this probably fits the bill,” the project manager said.
Although some residents have expressed skepticism that the project can be done in a year, Silvus said it will be done on time.
Kiewit has “vast” resources of equipment and skilled workers who can be brought in to tackle the job, according to Silvus.
He also said that Kiewit recently worked on two other projects that also resulted from Hurricane Helene damage. One was off Interstate 40 in Pigeon River Gorge, which is in western North Carolina near the Tennessee line. The other was the repair of bridges on the Nolichucky River in Erwin, Tennessee, a project that he said was finished ahead of schedule.
Both Damascus Mayor Katie Lamb and Mike Rush, a member of the Washington County Board of Supervisors who lives in Damascus, said they were impressed by the presentation, which Rush said was “hopeful.” Both also said they believe the project can be completed in one year, which is required in the contract.
Design for the project is underway and in a week or two, soil and rock samples will be taken, slope failures will be fixed and temporary bridges set up, according to Silvus.
”So, all that’s already started and it’s going to continue growing as we work our way through the winter into spring,” he said.
At the height of the work next spring and summer, Kiewit will have about 250 employees at the site, including 170 construction workers and 80 staff members. That number does not include local workers and subcontractors, Silvus added.
The company has divided the 18 miles of trail into eight sections, where crews will work simultaneously. He noted that the worst of the damage is in the Taylors Valley community just outside the town.
Kiewit’s priority is safety, according to Silvus. He and police Chief Kermit Turner urged residents to stay off the trail, which will be patrolled by the Forest Service, the Damascus Police Department and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. The company and Turner are also working on an emergency plan should there be an accident or other incident on the trail, they said.
After Silvus’ presentation, company representatives met in closed sessions with people interested in working for the company on the project, subcontractors and those who have land that could be used for equipment and access to the sites. The company is also looking for housing for workers.
Kiewet will soon set up a website on the Creeper Trail project, which local residents can check for regular updates and photos.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the project will be held at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 11 at Damascus Town Park.
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Correction 12:20 p.m. Nov. 21: The lead image on this story is a rendering of a new bridge that will replace Trestle 38 on the Virginia Creeper Trail. An earlier version of this story misidentified the trestle number.