A car passes under a bridge on the Norwottuck Rail Trail in South East Street in Amherst.
The bridge carries cyclists and pedestrians over the road as part of the 11-mile Norwottuck Branch Rail Trail, which connects Belchertown to Northampton, passing through Amherst and Hadley. The trail offers scenic views of the Connecticut River Valley along the way.
This bridge is one of several that repurpose historic railroad infrastructure. The rail trail follows the former Boston and Maine Railroad corridor and has been a key part of the region’s commitment to alternative transportation since its completion in the early 1990s.
Passenger service on the railway line ceased in 1932, and freight operations continued into the late 1970s before the corridor was acquired by the state and converted into a recreational trail, officially opening in 1993.
South East Street is a well-traveled local road that intersects with the rail trail just south of the East Village Center, a historic district that includes 18th- and 19th-century homes and the South Congregational Church.
UMass Amherst and the Town of Amherst both encourage use of the trail for commuting, recreation, and tourism. It connects to the larger Mass Central Rail Trail network, which continues to expand west and east across the state.
PHOTO: FungaiFoto
