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<TD><SPAN class=inside-head>Southwest Va rail spur prepares for
rebirth</SPAN> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--startclickprintexclude-->
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<TD><!--endclickprintexclude--><SPAN class=datestamp>Posted 6/23/2009 3:40
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<DIV class=byLine>By Steve Igo Kingsport Times-News</DIV>
<DIV class=inside-copy>BIG STONE GAP, Va. — There's a whole lot riding on an
abandoned rail spur even though trains no longer do.</DIV>
<P class=inside-copy>Wise County and the towns of Big Stone Gap and Appalachia
are poised to effect the rebirth of a locally revered section of railroad that
packs quite a lot of potential into its mere 1.8-mile stretch, including one of
the shortest railroad tunnels in the country and some splendid views.</P>
<P class=inside-copy>Originally built in 1890 by L&N Railroad, the spur
between Big Stone Gap and Appalachia saw the end of train operations in the
1970s. Local officials have signed a lease with the current owner, Norfolk
Southern, for right of way to transform the spur into a Rails-to-Trails project
with more than a footpath in mind.</P>
<P class=inside-copy>While they're at it, the towns and county will install a
pipeline to connect the two town water systems and a fiber-optics line to
boot.</P>
<P class=inside-copy>"This is a three-in-one type of project," said Lenowisco
Planning District Commission Executive Director Glen "Skip" Skinner.</P>
<P class=inside-copy>"From my perspective, the water project is the premiere
part. It's the finish. It's our last major project from the regional water study
we started years ago to have everybody interconnected for redundancies. There
may be a 'Part B' eventually to connect Norton and Appalachia (water systems),
but this allows the interconnection for emergency water supplies to be shared
back and forth as the needs arise, and that's kind of the premiere project from
that aspect."</P>
<P class=inside-copy>This is one old rail spur to be invested with all sorts of
modern curves, he added.</P>
<P class=inside-copy>"Appalachia is also one of the last communities (in Wise
County) not to have a redundancy for Internet and broadband services. By
utilizing the same right of way, we can make that happen as well," Skinner said.
"Of course, the third thing is the local asset-based development of one of the
prettiest hikes anybody can make anywhere. It's absolutely gorgeous."</P>
<P class=inside-copy>The rail line follows the Powell River between the towns
and features a trestle at either end that will be transformed for use by hikers
and bicyclists. The 135-foot Callahan Nose Tunnel straddles the Big Stone Gap
end of the spur and one of the most unique railroad tunnels anywhere -- Bee Rock
Tunnel -- provides a smile at the Appalachia end. At 47 feet, Bee Rock is one of
the shortest rail tunnels in the nation as it pokes through a fascinating slice
of local geology.</P>
<P class=inside-copy>Skinner said the localities have signed a right-of-way
lease agreement with the railroad and await their copy of the pact. Total cost
of upgrades to provide for the trail is nearly $1.5 million with the funding
package still a work in progress and total project cost in the neighborhood of
$2.5 million.</P>
<P class=inside-copy>The federal Rural Development Agency, an arm of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, has provided a grant to Appalachia for the waterline
interconnect, but other funding aspects remain to be secured so a timeline to
begin awaits the final money package. Wise County has earmarked $150,000 for the
combined project.</P>
<P class=inside-copy>"It's a good project. It's an exciting project for both
towns and the county as well. It ties into the Spearhead Trail project that
covers most of southwest Virginia, and it's a link between the towns not only
for a hiking and biking trail, but the pipeline connectivity gives backup water
supplies for both towns, and the fiber optics part is important, too," said Big
Stone Gap Town Manager Pat Murphy.</P>
<P class=inside-copy>"For Big Stone Gap, what we're excited about is we already
have great recreational facilities now with our Greenbelt and our parks. This
gives the potential to extend that Greenbelt to the new trail and just expand
what we have already recreationally. Recreational tourism is one of the biggest
things we have that we can develop to its full potential, and we're just now
beginning to tap into that area."</P>
<DIV class=inside-copy><I>Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights
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