After nearly 5 months of repairs, rain, and more repairs, the Pipeline Trail is back open.

Video via GIPHY, @rvah2o
Trail access has been blocked since July, while workers tried to prevent sewer leakage into the James River. In that time, RVAH20 crews covered over 677 square feet of the 43-foot diameter pipes with layers of tightly-made mesh and epoxy.

The large pipes carry both wastewater + stormwater, which means work slowed significantly when rain moved in. The high water pushed back the expected late October opening date.

Crews used a technique similar to paper-mâché to reinforce the pipes + would periodically insert tiny cameras within them to make sure the new patches worked. There are still three spots getting their finishing touches, but the trail is safe to explore again.

A closeup of a repaired pipe. | Photo via @rvah2o

In case you’ve never visited, the entrance is near a parking lot at the end of S. 14th St. near the Canal Walk. There’s a metal ladder leading to the catwalk over the pipeline, which offers views unlike any in the city.

Pro tip: Tennis and hiking shoes are always the best choice when walking these trails. Most of the walkways are either slick metal or dirt.

Even if you’re exploring beyond the trail, check out the newly released Smart Sewers map, where visitors can check water levels + overflow points before heading down to the river. No other city in the commonwealth has this map — look at Richmond being a trendsetter.

Is there a part of the Pipeline Trail you’ve been itching to visit again? Send us a photo, and we could post it @theRICtoday on Facebook or Instagram.

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