The trail is temporarily closed from the Alfarata trailhead near Alexandria for about 0.7 miles to the area behind the Water Street Flea Market.

Penelec has closed that section of the trail as it works on a project.

“During work on the Warrior Ridge Rebuild Project, our crews found that the matting needed to safely position equipment could not fit within the narrow area between the work site and the trail. To protect trail users, workers and the surrounding environment, a portion of the trail will need to remain closed through March while the work is completed,” said Lauren Siburkis, program manager, transmission communications for First Energy, Penelec’s parent company.

Siburkis said the trail is a valued community asset, and “we recognize how important consistent access is for local residents and trail users.”

The Dilling Bridge along the Lower Trail remains closed after an August 2025 inspection showed a deterioration of one of the bridge’s supporting piers. Mirror photo by Walt Frank

“Safety and service reliability remain our top priorities, and the temporary closure is necessary to complete essential grid upgrades without damaging the trail. We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding as we work to finish the project as quickly and safely as possible and restore full access once it is safe to do so,” Siburkis said.

Meanwhile, the Dilling Bridge also remains closed.

“We may be looking at June or July to get the work done, depending on Cottle’s (Cottle Asphalt Maintenance, project contractor) schedule. They are giving us remarkable breaks on costs and materials,” said Mike Panek, vice president of Rails to Trails of Central Pennsylvania Inc., which owns the trail. Panek is also director of trail conditions and maintenance.

The bridge, located between mile markers 9 and 10, is near the midpoint of the 16.5-mile walking/biking trail that runs from Flowing Spring near Canoe Creek to Alfarata near Alexandria.

The bridge was marked for closure Aug. 29 following an inspection by Keller Engineers Inc., Hollidaysburg, which showed a deterioration of one of the bridge’s supporting piers.

“Keller Engineers worked overtime and were able to prepare a scope of work, engineering drawings and secure permits,” said Rails to Trails board member Jennifer Barefoot. “We had contractors ready to work, making room in their schedule to do the emergency repair, and stage the equipment.”

Barefoot said the first attempt at the repair was called a “dry repair” where a cofferdam would be set up around the pier and the water pumped out, allowing the repair to be done in the dry.

“The river and Mother Nature didn’t agree with this fix. We were unable to pump the water out; it just kept refilling as fast as water was pumped out. This meant a different fix was needed, a ‘wet repair,'” Barefoot said.

Work to repair the bridge began Oct. 28 but Cottle’s had to withdraw due to previous contractual obligations. In November the weather turned cold and windy. Winter set in and work was halted.

“Sadly, the repair did not happen. During this first attempt, we, engineers and contractors did learn plenty. We learned a lot to ensure that when the weather breaks we will be able to get in, get the work done and get the bridge reopened,” Barefoot said.

When that work gets done depends on Cottle’s schedule.

“Once they get started it should only take a week to ten days. I think Mike (Cottle, company president/CEO) is great, I have no complaints,” Panek said.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.