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Image 1 — Small update to the Harper's Ferry bridge to the C&O
Image 2 — Small update to the Harper's Ferry bridge to the C&O
Image 3 — Small update to the Harper's Ferry bridge to the C&O
▲ 60 r/bikedc+1 crossposts

Small update to the Harper's Ferry bridge to the C&O

After my other post earlier this week, I was curious to see how far they have progressed on the stairway from the bridge between Harper's Ferry and the C&O towpath, and it's not looking great, but I am not a construction engineer, so take this for what it is. The original notice said the bridge would be closed for about a month during August to install the new stairwell, but when I got there yesterday, they were pouring concrete around the bottom of the new stairs (it was hard to see exactly where since it was fenced off). The stairs do not have any decking yet either, so they are at least 6 weeks behind the original plan.

On the bright side, the new stairwell will be awesome once it is completed: It is MUCH wider than the old one, so it will allow for two-way travel up and down the stairs, even with bikes. Hopefully the repairs to the walkway are taking place concurrently with the completion of the new stairs - I could not see that side of the bridge from the Towpath.

Finally, even if you can't get across the bridge, this is a spectacular time of year to take a ride up there. We parked at Point of Rocks and rode up a couple hundred yards past the railroad bridge to look across at the town and then took a short detour through Brunswick on the way back. It's a really cute town and it looks like a lot of good places to get something to eat. The stretch of the river for about a mile downstream of Harper's Ferry is littered with rapids, and you can find several places to stop and take in the view from the towpath. It's a really pleasant low stress 25-mile round trip. I highly recommend it!

u/95moose — 6 days ago
▲ 27 r/bikedc

The bridge between the C&O and Harper's Ferry closure extended

The Park Service announced that they have discovered safety issues with the pedestrian walkway alongside the railroad bridge, separate from the stairway replacement project. An inspection on September 21 "revealed the need to replace deteriorating deck planks and decking joists, and to stabilize a section of the security fence. To minimize risks to visitor health and safety and to scope and safely implement needed repairs, the walkway will be closed on September 22, 2026, and will remain closed until repairs can be made and inspections completed." (full post available here: RoD to temporarily close the pedestrian walkway across the Goodloe E. Byron Memorial Bridge - Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service))

The main page to check on the current status of the Park (and the ongoing bridge closure) is available here: Current Conditions - Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)

The bridge had been closed for the stairway replacement since the end of July, and this additional closure is unrelated, but it will extend the existing closure. This is really too bad, since Harper's Ferry is especially pretty in the fall as the leaves change. There is a shuttle running, but previous posts have noted that there is very limited space for bicycles.

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u/95moose — 12 days ago