[caption id="attachment_24504" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/COMMUNITY-Spanish-moss-trail1.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-24504" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/COMMUNITY-Spanish-moss-trail1-300x200.jpg" alt="A couple walks along the Spanish Moss Trail between Allison and Depot roads." width="300" height="200" /></a> A couple walks along the Spanish Moss Trail between Allison and Depot roads.[/caption]

The Friends of the Spanish Moss Trail (FSMT) announced that the much-anticipated Phase 4 of the Spanish Moss Trail will break ground this week from Depot Road to Broad River Boulevard bringing the Lowcountry a 7-mile connected Trail by the end of 2015.

“This fully-funded segment is an important improvement to our community’s Trail that will connect the three completed segments between Port Royal and Beaufort to the communities south of the Marine Corps Air Station,” said Dean Moss, Executive Director of the FSMT. With a grant from the Federal Highway Administration, Beaufort County will implement Phase 4 of the Spanish Moss Trail (2.1 miles) – partnering with Trail experts, the PATH Foundation of Atlanta, who constructed the first three phases of the Spanish Moss Trail. Phase 4 (also known as Segment 5 of the Trail’s Master Plan) features the Battery Creek Trestle designed to accommodate fishing as well as Trail users.

Today, there are 5 miles of the Spanish Moss Trail open to explore by bike or on foot. Its 10-Phase Master Plan, which when complete, will be a 13.6-mile long, 12-foot wide, paved trail – dedicated to pedestrians and bicyclists. The first three phases (5 miles) are open – connecting the heart of the City of Beaufort to the Town of Port Royal (with parking at Depot Rd., Broome Ln., and Westvine Dr.) and an additional segment that reaches near the Marine Corps Air Station (with parking at Roseida Rd.).

“In addition to this new construction, we are also working hard to build the appropriate partnerships to ensure the Trail is sustainable, well-appointed and a safe outdoor recreational experience here in our community,” said Moss. “We are advocating and securing funds for continued Trail development as well as for enhancements – like long-term sponsorships for Rest Area Trailheads and individual benches.”