The West Ashley Greenway is a rail trail in Charleston, South Carolina. It stretches across the West Ashley neighborhood from Main Road in the west to Folly Road in the east. It is a straight and mostly paved path utilized for walking, jogging, roller skating, and off-street cycling. The distance of the main trail currently covers 8.8 miles (14.2 km).[1] It is a contributing segment of the East Coast Greenway. In 2019, the U.S. Department of Transportation gave the city of Charleston a $18 million grant to build a pedestrian bridge across the Ashley River connecting West Ashley to downtown Charleston.[2] The planned pedestrian bridge may eventually connect with the Lowcountry Lowline.[3]
| West Ashley Greenway | |
|---|---|
| Length | 8.8 mi (14.2 km) |
| Location | Charleston, South Carolina, United States |
| Trailheads | Main Road Folly Road |
| Use | Cycling, walking, hiking, jogging, skating |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Season | Year round |
The former railway, chartered in 1853, was the Croghans Branch of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad.[4] It was abandoned by Seaboard Coast Line Railroad in 1981 and over time, the City of Charleston entered into leasing agreements with utility companies that took over the right-of-way to allow for public access. The last section of the trail was completed in 2007.
References
edit- ^ West Ashley Greenway Plan (Charleston City Government)
- ^ Smith, Katie (November 6, 2019). "$18 million grant for Ashley River pedestrian bridge". CHStoday. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
- ^ "The history of the West Ashley Greenway". CHStoday. May 25, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
- ^ The Croghans Branch; Johns Island to Albermarle Point, South Carolina (Abandoned Rails.us)