Hendersonville's cycling and pedestrian safety improvements ongoing

HENDERSONVILLE - With Hendersonville's portion of the Ecusta Trail set to be completed by the end of the year, bikers and pedestrians are seeing big changes in downtown Hendersonville, with more to come, according to Hendersonville Public Services Director Brent Detwiler.

"The city of Hendersonville is making strides to improve pedestrian and bicycle connections throughout downtown and beyond. The completion of the City’s Walk Hendo Pedestrian Plan and the arrival of the Ecusta Trail have led to an increased focus on the southern end of Main Street," he said.

The milling and repaving was completed this week, but there is still a lot left to do before the entire project is completed, according to Allison Justus, the communications manager for the city of Hendersonville.

"The new striping, pedestrian/bike signals, lane delineators and sidewalk improvements will occur throughout the summer and fall," she said.

One of the major improvements as far as cyclists' safety is a two-lane cycle track on the west side of South Main Street, beginning at the intersection of South King Street.

"Temporary pavement markings will be added to the streets until permanent markings are completed. Bike lanes will be striped on the west side of South Main giving Ecusta Trail and other cyclists a dedicated path to reach the Hendersonville Welcome Center and downtown Hendersonville," Justus said in a news release.

When completed, the Ecusta Trail will be a 19.4-mile multiuse, paved pathway along the former Watco Rail Line and will connect the cities of Hendersonville and Brevard. The first 6-mile stretch of the trail will start in downtown Hendersonville, go through the town of Laurel Park and end at Battle Creek off U.S. 64 in Horse Shoe. The second phase in Henderson County will take the trail to the Transylvania County line.

More information about the pedestrian/cycling safety improvements project is available at https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/projects/south-main-street-bike-and-pedestrian-improvements.

Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at DHensley@gannett.com. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News.