Today it is an abandoned railroad bed that leads nowhere, but Monroe County officials plan to turn the former Alabama Railroad Co. rail line into an expressway for tourism and other economic opportunities.
Gov. Robert Bentley awarded the County Commission a $100,000 grant to continue development of a 7.4-mile recreation trail that leads from Tunnel Springs, just north of Monroeville, to the town of Beatrice. The trail includes a 1,000-foot-long tunnel – from which the community received its name – and several trestles that were part of the rail line. Bentley earlier awarded an $80,000 grant for the project.
“There are many opportunities in rural Alabama for recreation and tourism," Bentley said. “Development of this trail in Monroe County will encourage people to visit a part of our state that has abundant natural beauty and a rich history.”
The asphalt-paved trail will offer hikers, cyclists, runners and sightseers access to scenic and historic features that have been inaccessible for about 20 years, according to county officials.
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad built the tunnel near the source of a local spring. The area includes historic churches and buildings and other parks and attractions are located in the vicinity. Nearby Monroeville draws about 30,000 people annually to its production of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” and the city hosts the Alabama Writers Symposium.
The Federal Highway Administration’s Recreational Trails Grant Program supplied the funds that the state is using for this and other projects to develop walking, hiking, bicycling, boating, paddling, horseback riding and other trails.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs administers recreational trails grants for the state. Local governments and non-profit groups that are awarded grants are required to supply support equal to at least 20 percent of the grant.
Bentley notified Greg Norris, chairman of the Monroe County Commission, that the grant had been approved.
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Contact Jim Plott or Larry Childers