Fall Line Trail to bring new connections to Petersburg, Colonial Heights and Chesterfield

The 10-mile southern section is expected to open in phases in 2028, expanding opportunities for recreation and travel between communities.

For residents of Petersburg, Colonial Heights and Chesterfield County, the southern section of the Fall Line Trail could make an evening walk, a family bicycle ride or a trip into a neighboring community easier to work into everyday life.

Officials recently gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony marking progress on the 10-mile section, part of the planned 43-mile trail connecting Petersburg and Ashland. The project will expand the region’s walking and bicycling network while creating new opportunities for communities to connect with parks, businesses and one another.

In follow-up answers to The Cultural Current, the Virginia Department of Transportation outlined a phased opening schedule. The agency plans to open the portion from Route 10, the southern project’s northern terminus, to Swift Creek Lane by June 2028. The remainder, described by VDOT as extending from Lakeview Park to Patton Park, is expected to open by December 2028.

The agency also clarified that its previously announced “winter 2028” completion estimate refers to the end of that year, with a finish completion date of Dec. 31, 2028.

For neighborhoods along the route, the trail’s value will depend on how residents can use it close to home. VDOT identified Lakeview Park and Branders Bridge Road in Colonial Heights, along with Long Creek Lane in Chesterfield, as public access locations with parking available. People will also be able to enter at street crossings, providing connections between the regional route and surrounding neighborhoods.

Those entrances could make the trail useful for both short outings and longer trips. A family looking for somewhere to walk after dinner, neighbors meeting for exercise or cyclists traveling between communities could share the same route without needing to make the same journey.

Virginia First Gentleman Adam Spanberger, who delivered the keynote address at the groundbreaking, emphasized the opportunities the trail could create for families and students.

“In my travels across the Commonwealth, Virginians keep telling me that they’re looking for opportunities to spend time in nature and connect with their community. The Fall Line Trail does both beautifully. I’m especially excited that this trail will one day connect nearly a hundred schools, creating healthier, more active opportunities for students across the region,” said Spanberger.

The trail’s community value extends beyond recreation. VDOT identifies Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, Old Town Petersburg, the Appomattox River Trail and Main Street Station among the destinations within a half-mile of the full planned corridor. As sections connect, the route could give residents, students and visitors more opportunities to explore the region’s educational institutions, historic neighborhoods and local businesses on foot or by bicycle.

For Petersburg, Colonial Heights and Chesterfield, the southern section could make those connections feel closer to home. Access through familiar parks and neighborhood streets could provide a convenient starting point for residents who want to spend more time outside, while giving visitors another way to experience the communities along the route.

Local businesses could benefit as well. People walking or riding between destinations may find new reasons to stop for a meal, visit a shop or return to a neighborhood they first encountered along the trail. Those benefits will develop over time, but the route creates an opportunity for nearby businesses to become part of the experience.

The project grew out of a collaborative study involving VDOT, local governments, community groups and public input. The full corridor follows a combination of existing roads and trails, abandoned railways, utility corridors and new alignments through Chesterfield, Colonial Heights, Petersburg, Richmond, Henrico, Hanover and Ashland.

“The Fall Line Trail represents what is possible when communities and transportation partners work together toward a shared vision,” said Dale Totten, Richmond District Engineer at VDOT. “Today’s groundbreaking is an important milestone, but the real impact will be measured in the connections this trail creates for residents, families, businesses and visitors for generations to come.”

VDOT placed the southern section’s total project cost at $78.4 million in its follow-up response, including $63.3 million for construction. Funding combines local, state, federal and Central Virginia Transportation Authority dollars.

Construction may require short-term lane closures and detours, though the agency expects minimal disruption to the traveling public. Northern portions of the Fall Line Trail are already open in Ashland, Hanover and Henrico.

For the southern communities, the phased openings in 2028 will begin putting the project’s promise into practice. Its lasting impact will take shape through the people who use it, whether they are walking with their children, visiting a nearby business or finding a new way to reach the next community.

Route maps and additional information are available on VDOT’s Fall Line Trail project page.