New
A.T. Bridge Near Damascus

New
A.T. Bridge Near Damascus

Members of the Mount Rogers A.T. Club pose on the finished bridge — happy that their hard work is complete.

Members of the Mount Rogers A.T. Club pose on the finished bridge — happy that their hard work is complete.

A.T. hikers heading north out of Damascus, Virginia have a new landmark to look out for: a sturdy, engineered footbridge over Straight Branch.

Five and a half miles north of town, near Highway 58 and a parking lot for the Virginia Creeper Trail, the clear waters of Straight Branch pass under the A.T. and tumble into larger Whitetop Laurel Creek. Due to the steep terrain, this humble mountain stream can swell dramatically after a thunderstorm. In 2013, a flash flood washed away the existing A.T. footbridge without leaving a trace.

Since the area is prone to dangerous flooding, a much larger bridge was needed as a long-term solution. Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) regional staff, volunteers from the Mount Rogers Appalachian Trail Club (MRATC), and Forest Service personnel from the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area collaborated on a project proposal for state funding. The state of Virginia awarded grant funding for the new bridge through the Recreational Trails Program, and the Forest Service got to work designing a bridge that would be above the 100-year floodplain.

Grant funding from the State of Virginia wasn’t enough to cover the entire cost of materials and construction, so this bridge became a true partnership project. A Forest Service contractor installed concrete abutments to support massive wooden beams, graded the approach, and stabilized the bank with riprap. Meanwhile, the ATC used funds from the Virginia specialty A.T. license plate to purchase lumber and hardware for the decking, posts, and railings, which Mount Rogers A.T. Club volunteers were standing by to prep and install.

The new foot bridge will keep hikers high and dry when crossing Straight Branch creek. Photo by Anne Maio

The project was nearly waylaid in the final phase. The design called for rounded posts and railings, which had to be custom cut in order to fit together and fit onto the square decking. Fortunately, MRATC volunteer Ron Bobko had a sophisticated wood shop at his workplace, and the know-how required. Bobko got permission for the club to use the specialized tools and work space at the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, and MRATC custom cut each post and railing so they fit together perfectly. All told, MRATC volunteers gave 473 hours of their time to the bridge project.

For four years, A.T. hikers were temporarily re-routed along the Beech Grove and Virginia Creeper trails in order to safely cross Straight Branch. Thanks to a strong partnership and some very dedicated local volunteers, they are back on the A.T. and crossing the creek high and dry. If you’re heading to Trail Days, be sure to check out the bridge and admire those rounded posts and railings.