The Town of Dryden announced on February 5, 2026, that the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) has approved the low bid for construction of the Route 13 footbridge, a key link in the Dryden Rail Trail. Hurd Development of Endwell, N.Y., submitted the winning bid of $3,174,624 to build the pedestrian and bicycle bridge.
The bridge will span Route 13 between its intersections with Route 366 and Lower Creek Road, creating a continuous connection between the eastern and western sections of the trail. The bridge will serve walkers, runners, cyclists, equestrians, commuters, and nature enthusiasts. Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2026, with completion anticipated by the end of the year.
The award also provides funding to complete the 1.5‑mile section from Monkey Run to Pinckney Road, finishing it with a stone‑dust surface like that of the Black Diamond Trail and making the route fully ADA‑compliant. This work is also expected to be completed in 2026.
More than $2.8 million in state and federal grants and local contributions have been secured for the bridge and trail improvements. Funding sources include:
- A $1.5 million Transportation Alternatives Program grant awarded in 2019
- An earmark from U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
- A NYS Assembly Multi‑Modal Transportation grant
- A NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Environmental Protection Fund grant
- Support from Tompkins County, the Triad Foundation, the Berkshire Hathaway Foundation, and Cornell University
- The Knickerbocker Bed Frame Company contributed adjacent land on the east side of the bridge, allowing a more efficient trail placement.
The Town has issued bonds to front the initial construction expenses, much of which will eventually be reimbursed by the TAP and other grants, and for the town’s local match. The task force continues to seek donations to offset the required local match.
Dryden Deputy Supervisor Dan Lamb called the bridge a pivotal element of the long‑planned trail system. “The Route 13 bridge is the linchpin of the Dryden Rail Trail,” Lamb said. “Beyond recreation and transportation alternatives—the basis for several grants—we expect the trail to encourage smart growth, improve access to affordable housing, and attract new businesses and tourism.”
Todd Bittner, natural areas director at Cornell Botanic Gardens, Dryden Rail Trail Task Force member, and lead grant writer, noted that the project aligns with key town, county, and university plans, including the Tompkins County Comprehensive Plan, Dryden’s Comprehensive Plan, the County’s 2020 Energy Strategy, and Cornell’s Climate Action Plan.
He said the trail will connect three Cornell Botanic Gardens Natural Areas—Purvis Road Wetlands, Monkey Run, and Upper Cascadilla—providing health and wellness benefits.
When fully built, the Dryden Rail Trail will extend 14.4 miles, linking the Town’s eastern boundary through the Jim Schug section and the Villages of Dryden and Freeville, continuing through Etna and Varna, and reaching Game Farm Road on the west. From there, the route joins the East Ithaca Recreation Way, connecting to Cornell University and the City of Ithaca.
The trail follows the former Lehigh Valley Railroad corridor, decommissioned in 1982. The Town has secured easements for 42 of the 48 parcels needed for the full route; negotiations continue with the remaining landowners.
According to Alice Walsh Green, Chair of the Dryden Rail Trail Task Force, the decision to build the bridge followed extensive review, including NYSDOT consultation, input from the Ithaca‑Tompkins County Transportation Council, and a county‑funded engineering study of alternatives.
“After reviewing all available options, we determined that the bridge offers the safest, most cost‑effective, and commuter‑friendly way to cross this busy highway,” Green said. “It will allow users continuous access from Pinckney Road to Game Farm Road.”
Green said additional grant funding has been secured to replace a washed‑out railroad bridge east of Pinckney Road, also slated for 2026. From there, the final section of trail will cross Route 366, then continue through Etna to Johnson Road in Freeville, connecting with the section completed in 2019. As the trail nears completion, the Task Force is welcoming new volunteer stewards to help care for the corridor and strengthen the community that has grown around it.
“Volunteer engagement has been the heart of the Dryden Rail Trail from its beginning in 2016,” Green said. “And now, our new steward program gives volunteers a simple, lasting way to stay involved by walking the trail, reporting concerns, and helping build the shared sense of ownership that makes the Dryden Rail Trail such a special community resource.” To volunteer or for more information, email DRTstewards@gmail.com.
Dryden Rail Trail 