FISHKILL – It has taken 15 years since the concept of the Hudson Highlands Fjord Trail from the City of Beacon to the Village of Cold Spring was first discussed.
Construction on phase one is expected to start later this year making it safer and a more pleasant experience for hikers and nature lovers at Breakneck Mountain.
A $20 million gap existed in the funding needed to start the work and Senator James Skoufis was able to get that included in the just-adopted state budget so that visitors could enjoy the experience that much more on the number one hiking destination in the state.
“As part of phase one, we’re going to build an off-site parking facility. We’re going to build a pedestrian bridge and make sure that for visitors and make sure that for residents and visitors alike, the corridor is made much, much safer,” he said at an announcement event on land between Route 9D and the Metro-North Railroad tracks along the Hudson River in the southern area of the Town of Fishkill.
Skoufis said the total cost of phase one is $52 million.
Scenic Hudson President Ned Sullivan called Skoufis “a champion” of the region, for securing the needed funding.
