Washington County Conservation’s project to pave the Kewash Nature Trail from west of Willow Pond to the historic Crooked Creek Bridge recently hit a new benchmark.

Executive Director Zach Rozmus says they’re officially set to open Phase 2 of the project for bids now that the conservation board has approved the engineering plans, “So that’s what actually will go out when the bid process opens up in June for the actual bid letting. So that’s been a big milestone that at times over the last year with COVID, it seemed like a milestone, I didn’t know if it was going to happen or not.”

Rozmus says the approved engineering plans break down every section of the trail’s 1.4 miles of paving from types of soil to culvert placement to how it ties into Crooked Creek Bridge. He mentions if things stay on track they’re targeting August and September for the majority of the paving work and, if weather cooperates, finalizing the project before winter. The project is estimated to cost between $550,000- $600,000 and has been aided by a $317,000 grant through the Transportation Alternative Program (TAP).