Auburn SRT Bridge redecking is complete

The community is invited to view the recently restored Auburn Schuylkill River Trail Bridge and receive an update about closing the trail gap. Eliminating the gap will create a 9.5-mile segment of the trail from Hamburg to Auburn.

The rehabilitated structure is a former Pennsylvania Railroad bridge. It was constructed in 1919 to cross the Schuylkill River and compete with the Reading Railroad for Schuylkill County’s anthracite coal. The historic plate girder bridge is now fitted with a new concrete trail deck and steel railings. The restored bridge is open to trail users with amazing views of the Schuylkill River, but won’t connect to the existing trail in Auburn Borough until the fall of 2022.

The Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area will celebrate the progress made on this trail project and give an official update about the next phase on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021, at 1 p.m. The announcement will take place on the Auburn SRT Bridge.

Attendees of the event with have the option of arriving to the bridge by car or bike.

Individuals who plan to come by car should park at the Kernsville Trailhead located at 25 Kernsville Dam Road in Hamburg. The trailhead is approximately six miles from the Auburn SRT Bridge. After people park at the trailhead, they will be able to use a Schuylkill River Greenways provided shuttle. People who would like to use the shuttle to transport them to the bridge should arrive at the Kernsville Trailhead by 11:45 a.m. on Oct. 6.

In conjunction with this event, Schuylkill River Greenways is encouraging cyclists to enjoy a fall foliage ride on one of the most scenic sections of the trail. Cyclists can begin their ride from the Kernsville Trailhead located at 25 Kernsville Dam Road in Hamburg. From there, they’ll enjoy the beautiful Bartram Section of the Schuylkill River Trail until they arrive at the Auburn SRT Bridge. The ride from the Kernsville Trailhead to the bridge is about six miles so cyclists should plan accordingly to arrive by 1 p.m.

Schuylkill River Greenways builds and manages the Schuylkill River Trail in Berks and Schuylkill Counties with the help of several partners. The Auburn Gap Project is made possible through federal funding from the Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation (BAMR), the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, the William Penn Foundation, and a partnership with Schuylkill County.

More than 75 miles of the Schuylkill River Trail is currently open to the public throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania. The multi-use path will extend 120 miles when completed from Frackville in Schuylkill County, through Berks, Montgomery, Chester Counties, and to Philadelphia. To learn more about the Schuylkill River Trail and current projects, visit schuylkillrivertrail.com.