On Section 19 of the Catamount Trail, as you head north from the Battleground Condos, you cross a large bridge over Mill Brook in Fayston, VT. This bridge is very important to the Catamount Trail as it provides connectivity in an area where no other viable route exists. Currently, the existing bridge has begun to fail and is in dire need of replacement.
The CTA will be replacing the failing 30 foot long logging bridge with a new 50 foot long pedestrian bridge. This project will maintain trail connectivity and trail access, will facilitate permanent protection of the trail and parking access at the trailhead via conversion of a long-term lease agreement with the landowner into a permanent easement, and the new bridge will improve water quality and have a reduced environmental impact on the Mill Brook watershed and ecosystem.
The bridge will be built utilizing recycled materials including repurposed structural I-beams. This approach will help us minimize the overall cost of the project, while still serving a wide range of winter and summer users, from Catamount Trail Skiers, snowshoers, and other backcountry explorers, to walkers, runners, and hikers. The new structure will also facilitate access for emergency services in the Phen Basin and Catamount Trail areas.
At this time the engineering and planning are done, grant applications are in, contractors have been hired, and the new bridge is scheduled to be in place before this coming winter. And while we have secured grant funding for a significant portion of this project, we are now seeking donations from the community. Currently we are looking to raise $5,000-$10,000 to close the gap on the full $55,000 cost. Please consider helping us push this project across the finish line by clicking below to make a donation.
Thank you in advance for your support, and and for your commitment to the Vermont backcountry community!
Note: There are still a couple of grant applications that are outstanding, and if awarded would change our fundraising target. Once everything is complete, any surplus funds from this campaign will be transferred into the CTA Trail Fund to support backcountry zone and trail improvements across Vermont.
