Some great improvements are coming to our trails!
Starting Monday, November 2, two different trail projects will be underway, and we want you to know what to expect before the crews arrive.
Asphalt Trail Repaving
The contractor will grind off, or “mill,” the old asphalt on one segment, then pave it the next day while milling the segment ahead. That means each section is closed for only a day or two, not weeks. Milled trails are rough and uneven, so please treat them as a work zone even when no equipment is present.
The contractor will work Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with no work on Sundays. They will also take a full break for the holidays: Thanksgiving (November 26 through 29), Christmas (December 24 through 27), and New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Every trail will be open during the holidays so you can enjoy them with family in town. The project is anticipated to finish by mid-December, weather and unforeseen circumstances permitting.
This project consists of 4 phases. Please see below for additional details and a map of the project.
Phase 1: Northern Trails: November 2 to November 16. This will include the Fairchild Trail and the trails around Brady, Cape, Beresford, Scott, Cartwright, Proprietors, and Etiwan.
Phase 2: Central Trails: November 17 to November 25. This will include the trail from Seven Farms to Grand Council, then Pierce, Oak Overhang, Smythe, Blakeway, Barfield, and Daniel Island Drive.
Phase 3: Parks and Ponds: November 30 to December 4. This will include Pierce Park, Smythe Park, and the trail around the Waverly and Village ponds.
Phase 4: Residential Connectors: December 7 to December 14. This will include the connectors around Smythe, Wando, Willtown, Juliana, Gatewood, and Village Crossing.
Wando River Trail
Another separate contractor will conduct work on the northern Wando River Trails (above Waterfront Park) behind the Tennis Center and Recreation Center. They will break up the old, hardened surface on the Wando River Trail and top it with fresh material, giving it a smoother, more even finish. This project will consist of three phases, and the trail will remain open in the evenings and on weekends. The contractor will conduct work weekdays only, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. The Wando River Trail is anticipated to conclude in the third week of November, just before Thanksgiving, weather and unforeseen circumstances permitting.
Please see below for additional details and a map of the project.
Phase 1: Under the I-526 bridge: Monday, November 2, continuing for approximately 4 to 6 days, weather and unforeseen circumstances permitting. Included is the area that runs under the Wando bridge and along the river.
Phase 2: Between the tennis center and the I-526 bridge: Friday, November 6, or Monday, November 9, continuing for approximately 1 day, weather and unforeseen circumstances permitting. A short section on the riverside of the tennis center.
Phase 3: Seven Farms Drive to the back of the tennis center: Wednesday, November 11, continuing for approximately 4 to 6 days, weather and unforeseen circumstances permitting. The longest portion to be completed in this project. This section runs from Seven Farms Drive around the pond and behind the stadium. Materials will be staged in a coned-off area off Seven Farms Drive. Materials will not be left over the weekend, and work will continue on Monday, November 16.
We will share any significant schedule changes via email and on our POA Website.
Please remain outside of the coned and barricaded areas until they are removed, as new asphalt stays soft for a while.
We apologize for any inconvenience these improvement projects may cause. We truly appreciate your patience. When completed, the trails will be smoother and more enjoyable for years to come!
If you have questions, reach us at info@dicommunity.org or 843-971-9200.
