There are plans in the works to expand the Henson Creek Trail from it's eastern terminus at Temple Hills road, NW along Henson Creek to the Branch Avenue Metro station.
Holt said bikers were extremely disappointed when county officials missed the March 2006 and March 2007 deadlines for applying for a federal grant, delaying the project by at least another year. ‘‘This project perfectly meets the criteria for the federal matching funds,” Holt said.
The problem is getting past the Beltway and dealing with steep, environmentally sensitive lands after that.
‘‘There are several existing culverts where the Henson Creek goes under the beltway and we are going to utilize one of those,” said Fred Shaffer, a planner with Prince George’s County Planing Department. He said this would provide a crucial pedestrian and bicycle crossing of the Beltway, using existing box culverts as has already been done in Virginia. Though the right of way has already been acquired for the northern extension, close details such as slopes and wetlands along the bikeway has to be accounted for.
If they can build that extension, it will increase pressure for PG County to build there section of the Suitland Parkway Trail at least to the Henson Creek (if not all the way to Andrews AFB).
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