The Nature Coast Trail is moving fast. The Trail, an old railroad, will connect Trenton and Cross City, with a spur that runs south to Fanning Springs and Manatee Springs.
Paving may be completed by next summer. The Trail crosses the Suwannee on a railroad bridge built in 1914.
This trail will be perfect for spring and summer picnic rides. The springs at both Fanning Springs and Manatee Springs are both state parks with picnic facilities and swimming.
No word yet on which route or when the Rail trail will be linked up to downtown, though various officials say it should happen in the next two years.
There are two proposed routes for the connector. Both routes follow the old rail line from Boulware Springs and cross over Waldo/Williston Road.
After crossing Waldo Road, one trail route will follow the old rail line and link up to the Depot Trail near Main Street. This route will need a somewhat expensive bridge over a creek near SE 4th Street.
The other route crosses Waldo Road and then heads north along SE 8th Street, a street along which most segments were never paved. This route will cross the Depot Trail at SE 7th Street and connect to the Mathison Greenway near downtown. This route will be cheaper to build, but will pass through some industrial wasteland.
CSX Railroad has abandoned the rail line along west Sixth Street from near SW 16th Ave out to NW 23rd ave. Currently, there are negotiations between the railroad and either the city or the FDOT to aquire this railine. This could make an excellent addition to the bike path network.
Adapted from an article in the Lake City Reporter, June 17, 1998, as posted on the internet
Work is expected to begin soon on the first link of a biking path that, as envisioned, will wind through several North Florida towns, Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) officials said this week.
Paving of the Branford Greenway - the first link in the planned series of trails through Fort White, High Springs, Jasper and Live Oak - is expected to be complete in time for a July 4 ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The trail will begin in downtown Branford and provide riders with options to head off in two different directions. The eastern branch of the bike trail will go toward Fort White for about two miles, then cyclists can continue on existing backroads for another 14 miles to Ichetucknee Springs State Park (north entrance) and High Springs (17 miles more - passing O'Leno State Park enroute). The other branch of the bike trail goes three miles north to Little River Springs Road, which leads to Little River Springs Park, two miles west.
Paving work will be done by Anderson-Columbia of Lake City. The project is being funded through federal funds provided through the Florida Department of Transportation and administered by the water management district.
Little River Springs is one of many blue-water springs along the Suwannee River near Branford. The area has been dubbed the "Cave Diving Capital of the World." Water flow from the spring is plentiful right now with standing waves on the spring run creating a fun tube ride. Along the bike trail and near downtown Branford at the Suwannee River bridge, Branford Spring at Ivey Memorial Park has a unique, semi-circular deck and clear, cool water... the new trail will provide great opportunities for spring hopping by bicycle.