Work on trails, parking begins at headgates

Work began this week on a five-month project to expand, improve and realign parking areas and access trails at the Augusta Canal headgates area.

"Right now, they are still working on the initial clearing," said Sandy Boner, the county's manager of rental facilities and venues. "They've had to hold off a little because of all the rain."

The series of improvements, she said, will include a new, larger parking lot near the existing gravel parking lot. "The gravel lot will be almost doubled, so when all this is done, not only will you have access to what used to be gravel -- and will be asphalted -- but there will be a second lot."

The project also includes a new bicycle path that will extend from the park entrance on Evans to Locks Road along a strip of land leased by the county from Martin-Marietta, which owns the adjoining quarry property.

The trail will eventually lead down the steep hill to the footbridge over the canal near Reed Creek. One of the trail's benefits is that it will separate bicycles and pedestrians from the busy parking lots and motor vehicles.

The work also includes three new picnic pavilions at the headgates area, she said. "One of them is 20-by-40 feet and two are 20 by 20 and all can be rented," she said. Amenities that will be included are ceiling fans and grills. The area will even have a doggie drinking fountain.

Augusta Canal Authority spokeswoman Rebecca Rogers said the work may cause occasional closures.

"Clearing, grading and paving will create obstructions for several months," she said in an advisory this week. "There may be periodic closing of the roadway along the canal's south bank and the pedestrian bridge as work progresses. Park users will continue to have access to the Augusta Canal towpath via the Headgate crossing. Users are asked to respect construction barriers and obey all posted signs."

The improvements, managed by Columbia County, are being paid for with about $750,000 in Special Local Option Sales Tax and $250,000 from the Georgia Department of Transportation.

Reach Rob Pavey at 868-1222, ext. 119, or rob.pavey@augustachronicle.com.