A dilapidated portal into the forest:
The first section of the Estatoe trail was completed by the City of Brevard in 2003 to connect Blue Ridge Community College to the City Sports Complex and the Transylvania County Activity Center. Additional sections of the Estatoe trail have been constructed since then, including the section within the Pisgah Ranger District that was completed in 2008, and the trail now stretches all the way from the Art Loeb Trail in Pisgah National Forest to Main Street in downtown Brevard.
In the nearly two decades since the section within the forest was constructed, it had degraded significantly due to lumber’s limited longevity as a trail building material in wet areas. Rotting, unsafe sections of boardwalk were being replaced often as a temporary solution, however, this was cost-prohibitive and did not offer a long-term solution.
Our plan to improve safety and reduce maintenance:
We proposed the constriction of six fiberglass beam bridges and one dimensional lumber bridge in priority areas where trail conditions are wettest due to seeps and springs. Unlike the original lumber boardwalks, the fiberglass beam bridges offer a long-term solution to trail maintenance along the Estatoe and will require significantly less maintenance in the future. These elevated bridges allow for water flow across and off of the trail while keeping trail users dry.
Work on the project began in April 2024 with volunteers helping to dismantle and remove rotten boardwalks on Pisgah Project Day. TPC’s Trail Crew then worked through the summer to replace the old boardwalks with turnpiking (elevated trail tread) and construct the new bridges.
A lasting improvement to this heavily-used trail:
When Hurricane Helene devastated our region in September 2024, five of the fiberglass beam bridges had been constructed and TPC’s Trail Crew was preparing to begin work on the final fiberglass beam bridge. During clearing and assessment work after the storm, we were pleased to discover that the newly constructed bridges were unharmed. The final fiberglass beam bridge was constructed in November 2024 and TPC’s Trail Crew returned to the Estatoe in early 2025 to demolish remaining boardwalks and complete the final two turnpikes on the east end of the trail.
The rehabilitation and modernization of the Estatoe trail, in combination with the existing Brevard Greenway, the new NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT) pedestrian bridge across the Davidson River, and the soon-to-be-constructed roundabout at the U.S. Highway 276 entrance to Pisgah, will result in a world class portal connecting visitors and locals alike with the forest and the local businesses and amenities of the surrounding communities. The cumulative result is a safer, more enjoyable experience on the Estatoe trail.
Outcomes:
- Removed 580 feet of rotting, unsustainable wooden boardwalks
- Constructed 469 feet of new 7’ wide turnpike to replace rotten sections of boardwalk
- Constructed six fiberglass beam bridges and one dimensional lumber bridge across wet low-lying areas to allow for water flow across and off the trail
