Local

A mile of the Spanish Moss Trail to be off limits for 2 months. Here’s where and why

Currently, Spanish Moss Trail in Port Royal ends about 100 yards northwest of Ribaut Road. A permit has been issued to extend across Ribaut Road.
Currently, Spanish Moss Trail in Port Royal ends about 100 yards northwest of Ribaut Road. A permit has been issued to extend across Ribaut Road. kapuckett@islandpacket.com

For two months, a near-mile stretch of the Spanish Moss Trail will close to allow for the construction of a new fishing pier and fix-ups to an existing pedestrian bridge.

A Beaufort County recreational treasure, the 10-mile trail between Beaufort and Port Royal, takes walkers, runners and bikers through paths that wind along water and marshes. Annually, more than 100,000 residents and visitors use the Spanish Moss Trail.

Beginning May 1, trail enthusiasts will have to dodge a 0.8-mile section of the pathway. The entire stretch between Hermitage Road and Cottage Farm Drive will close as O’Quinn Marine Construction builds a new pier. People using the trail will need to reroute through nearby neighborhoods or go back the way they came.

This Spanish Moss Trail between the street crossings at Hermitage Road and Cottage Farm will be closed at times during the next four months while a pedestrian bridge is repaired.
This Spanish Moss Trail between the street crossings at Hermitage Road and Cottage Farm will be closed at times during the next four months while a pedestrian bridge is repaired.

The planned pier’s location has sweeping views of Battery Creek and is a short distance to the Technical College of the Lowcountry. The existing pedestrian bridge will also be repaired.

Beaufort County’s Capital Projects Department expects the section of the trail to reopen by June 30. However, the completion date is weather and supply dependent.

Between May 1 and June 30, 2024, the Spanish Moss Trail section between the street crossings at Hermitage Road and Cottage Farm Drive will be closed to make way for a new pier and repairs of an existing bridge.
Between May 1 and June 30, 2024, the Spanish Moss Trail section between the street crossings at Hermitage Road and Cottage Farm Drive will be closed to make way for a new pier and repairs of an existing bridge. Beaufort County Government

The county urges Spanish Moss Trail enthusiasts to avoid the section, because construction traffic and staging of materials will be in the way. This ensures pedestrian and contractor safety, the county said in a Thursday news release.

Before heading out on the trail, check the Spanish Moss Trail website for additional closures. For questions or additional information, contact Beaufort County Capital Improvements Projects at 843-255-2707.

This story was originally published April 18, 2024 at 10:12 AM.

Sarah Haselhorst
The Island Packet
Sarah Haselhorst, a St. Louis native, writes about climate issues along South Carolina’s coast. Her work is produced with financial support from Journalism Funding Partners. Previously, Sarah spent time reporting in Jackson, Mississippi; Cincinnati, Ohio; and mid-Missouri.
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