BEVT bridge dedicated as “Katie’s Crossing”
McELHATTAN, PA – The refurbished railroad bridge linking Wayne Township to Pine Creek Township was officially dedicated Wednesday as the latest link in the ever-expanding Bald Eagle Valley Trail, a bikeway/walkway trail seen as a tourism boon for Clinton County.
Multiple speakers praised the collaborative effort to complete the $2.8 million bridge over the West Branch of the Susquehanna. But the biggest announcement was word that the bridge is now dedicated to Clinton County Planning Director Katie de Silva. The Clinton County Commissioners, who hosted the event at the base of the bridge, surprised the soon to be retired county planner with word it will forever be known as “Katie’s Crossing,” a thank you to de Silva for her countless hours in bringing the project to fruition. She was presented a bouquet of flowers and a plaque reading Katie’s Crossing, This Bridge Is Dedicated to Clinton County Planner Katie de Silva, who spent many years planning and developing this trail. The plaque will be mounted at both ends of the bridge.
County Commissioner Jeff Snyder, who emceed the event, traced the Bald Eagle Valley Trail history, from the initial proposal in 2009, an effort continuing with support from multiple county commissioners in the interim. He called the bridge dedication the “focal point” of the effort to get the bike/walkway project done. PennDOT District Executive Tom Zurat spoke of the unique nature of the bridge work, a finished product he termed “iconic.”
de Silva, in her comments, noted the old railroad bridge had been abandoned in 1972 and the BEVT gives it a new lease. She talked of the challenges involved, from COVID to the discovery of baby falcons in the bridge’s undercarriage earlier this year, which caused a pause in the renovations until the birds left the nest.
The trail now runs from the old railroad station in Castanea Township to the east end of Katie’s Crossing, some 3.5 miles miles. The next link, another stretch moving east from the bridge, along with a pathway from the Castanea train station to the under-development Robbie Gould Chestnut Grove Sports Complex on the Lock Haven side of Bald Eagle Creek, is in the planning stages.
Other speakers, in addition to county commissioners Miles Kessinger and Angela Harding, included state DCNR Secretary Cindy Dunn, Clinton County Tourism Director Julie Brennan and Jennie Louwerse, Deputy Secretary for PennDOT Multi-Modal. Former county commissioner Pete Smeltz, who had been a player in the trail development and is an avid trail user, put in a plug for supporting the project as its development continues.
Multiple bike riders traversed the trail from Castanea to be present for the dedication of Katie’s Crossing.
