The Bedford Fulton Joint Recreation Authority received a $124,780 state grant to help fund a new trail on the abandoned turnpike near Breezewood, state Rep. Jesse Topper, R-Bedford/Fulton, and state Sen. Pat Stefano, R-32nd District, wrote in a news release Tuesday.

Bedford and Fulton counties created the Bedford Fulton Joint Recreation Authority in 2018 to redevelop a portion of the abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike into a multi-use trail and event destination called the Old PA Pike Trail.

“The old turnpike has long been a destination for bike riders and the curious,” Topper said. “Transforming this abandoned road into the Old PA Pike Trail with easier access has been years in the making.”

The project will require engineering expertise in both tunnel construction and inspection to assess the condition of the Ray’s Hill and Sideling Hill tunnels.

The engineers will then make recommendations for developing the site for the purpose of outdoor recreation.

“This funding will help our local authority bring its plan to reality and will ultimately bring additional tourism dollars to our communities,” Topper said.

The grant will be used for professional services, environmental assessments, land surveying and administration costs.

“The TOPP is a unique asset, as well as an economic driver, in Bedford County,” Stefano said. “By securing the professional expertise to assess the tunnels’ safety, this funding helps take an important step toward ensuring the trail’s longevity as a part of the ever-growing recreation scene in Bedford.”

The grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority is through the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program, which is funded by impact fees charged to natural gas companies that drill in the Marcellus Shale region of the state. Program funding is allocated for planning, acquisition, development, rehabilitation and repair of greenways, recreational trails, open space, parks and beautification projects, according to the release.