Special to 1808Delaware
The CSX tunnel at Adventure Park is closed for the remainder of the season for continued evaluation.
A recent condition assessment has shown improvements and repairs need to be made before the path can be reopened for recreation. While the CSX tunnel serves as a popular bike path connector, it’s multiple governing jurisdictions make the repair process more complicated.
The railroad established the tunnel decades ago as a drainage culvert. In 1997, when the city developed on the (west) side of the tracks, it was converted into a dual-purpose tunnel for pedestrian and bicycle access to Adventure Park. Over time, structural problems have developed into longstanding issues. Cascading water and pathway challenges from flooding still remain. Ultimately, the City is seeking a more permanent fix than temporary support scaffolding.
Not only does project coordination need to occur with CSX, plans must also align with the Federal Railway Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Association due to floodplain considerations. We are currently working in conjunction with CSX on a variety of other projects, such as expanding parking along North Depot Street, but the approvals take time.
Our network of bike paths provides valuable connections between city parks and neighborhoods. The pedestrian tunnel beneath the CSX railroad is an important piece of this network. This project remains a top priority in the 2024-28 Capital Improvements Plan.
Please use Seldom Seen Road as a detour while this portion of the path remains closed. Follow the City of Powell online for more updates.
