Breaking in the Bridge
The recently opened Brighton Rail Trail bridge connects Liberty Trail with Brighton Rail Trail, and is another component of Lexington’s extensive trail system. The bridge provides a safe way for bicyclists and pedestrians to cross over Man O’ War and connect with various parks and area neighborhoods.
“We currently have about $53 million in trail projects in some phase of development,” Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton said at the opening. “With the support of federal grants, we have been able to build our wonderful trail system and continue to make it even better.”
The 300-foot bridge connects more than a mile of the Liberty Trail to the two-mile-long Brighton Rail Trail. The connected shared use trail travels through the Liberty Park and Hamburg neighborhoods over into the Andover Forest neighborhood, ending at Deer Haven Park. Users can access the bridge over Man O’ War Boulevard via ramps at each end of the structure.
“We are happy to take this across the finish line,” Councilmember David Kloiber said. “Many people have put a lot of time and effort into this project over the years. We are happy it has finally culminated in an amenity that will connect more areas of the 6th District by way of this multi-use trail.”
Councilmember Kathy Plomin said, “I live nearby and walk the Brighton Trail often. I am so excited about the trail’s connection to Liberty Road and Liberty Park. The trailhead is off of Walnut Hill, a 12th District rural road, and this connection gives the trail close to 4 continuous miles to walk, run, or bike. I love that it also improves on residential connectivity to Hamburg.”
Brighton Rail Trail was Lexington’s first rail-trail, and it is the primary off-road shared use trail in the eastern half of Fayette County. More than 40,000 people use Liberty Park, Brighton Rail, and the Gleneagles trails annually.
STEPPING UP
Hamburg Council Member David Kloiber issued, “A big thanks to the Council Team for Stepping Up for YMCA Kids!! I’m thankful for Lexington’s 5th District – Councilmember Liz Sheehan , 11th District Councilmember Jennifer Reynolds, Councilmember James Brown, Chuck Ellinger – Council At-Large, Lexington’s 3rd District – Councilmember Hannah LeGris for coming out to step. #100kforykids” Sixth District Councilmember David Kloiber walked 100k steps to raise funds for the Whitaker Family YMCA to support after-school programs for kids.
Timberrrrrrr!
At an October Council Work Session, representatives with Kentucky Utilities appeared before the Council to provide information regarding their transmission line tree-trimming work planned for Lexington in 2022—and to listen to public comment and concerns expressed by the Council and many people in attendance.
Numerous Lexington residents spoke before the Council and voiced frustrations over plans by Kentucky Utilities to uproot countless trees as part of a vegetation management program to prevent trees from falling close to lines, or growing into them.
K.U. implemented a new policy in 2014 that called for the removal of trees taller than 10 feet under the utility’s larger transmission lines.
K.U. representatives say the cutting is needed to safeguard against power outages by keeping fallen limbs and trees out of those lines. Some residents say it’s needless butchering that puts profits ahead of people and destroys one of our community’s greatest assets.
A K.U. representative said their Enhanced Vegetation Management Program is designed to “improve line safety and reliability.”
Mayor Gorton met the K.U. representatives prior to the meeting and asked that they:
- Consider potential for changes and compromise to reduce the amount of tree cutting
- Consider more robust revegetation on private and public property easements
- Provide better notification to neighborhoods and neighbors
- Allow LFUCG to provide input on the stormwater study KU intends to conduct in the Lakeside area
- Study the Kentucky geological survey maps for sinkhole impacts
- Implement at least a minimum 30-day moratorium to study and consider the above
Kyle Burns, a representative with K.U., stated, “We did come here to listen today. We come to all the meetings to listen. We wanna solicit feedback. We want to take that and continuously improve our program.”
NEIGHBORHOOD CALENDAR
SUN NOV 7
The Rising Stars Kids 3K is Sunday November 7, 2021 at Liberty Elementary. It includes the following events: 3K Run/Walk (Ages 6-16), 1/4 Mile Run/Walk (Ages 2-5), and Race Volunteer.
MON NOV 8
The annual meeting for the East Pointe Homeowners Association (Summerfield and Tuscany) will be held Monday Nov 8 at 6:30 pm via zoom. (The zoom link will be emailed to current residents in early November.)
Please email your southeast Lexington neighborhood association meeting dates and invitations to info@hamburgjournal.com. Hamburg Journal staff attend many local neighborhood meetings.
This article also appears on page 6 and 7 of the November 2021 print edition of Hamburg Journal.
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