Design and engineering plans are underway for the Rockmart Riverwalk, the next construction phase of the Silver Comet Trail, which leads into the city’s downtown business section.

Ed McBrayer, executive director, PATH Foundation, expects final plans and permitting will be available around July 6 with Riverwalk construction to begin before the end of July.

The PATH Foundation is one of the leading agencies promoting and funding the trail project.

McBrayer appeared before the Rockmart Mayor and Council recently to give an update on current activities involving the Silver Comet.

“Preliminary construction drawings are to be presented to the City, Clinton Lester, county manager and regulatory agencies,” he said.

“The Riverwalk will be completed before year-end,” he said. Construction to Nathan Dean Sports Complex, he said, will likely begin before year-end.

The next phase will be from Rockmart to Clarkwood Road, which will be along U.S. 278 and coordinated with the DOT widening project.

Related Silver Comet projects, he said, include the tunnel under U.S. 278 in Dallas, which is completed. The northern approach to the tunnel was to be poured June 14.

A new trailhead will also be constructed in Dallas at the Old Villa Rica Highway and bridges will be built over the Old Villa Rica Highway and at U.S. 278 near Powder Springs Parkway, according to McBrayer.

Plans are also to continue the Silver Comet between Rockmart and Cedartown.

“PATH is still pursuing right-of-way opportunities,” he said.

McBrayer added: “PATH is helping Cedartown build a Silver Comet trailhead and museum and hopeful the Cedartown to Alabama section can be built this year.

“The goal is to build the Silver Comet from Mt. Paran Road in Atlanta to the Alabama state line where it will connect with the Chief Ladiga Trail and Anniston, Ala. The resulting trail will be over 101 miles long.”

McBrayer also told the board that no vendors can sell merchandise on the trail.

“That is Georgia law,” he said, “not a rule of the PATH Foundation.

During his presentation, McBrayer told about the Silver Comet’s history:

The Silver Comet is named for the silver passenger train, which traveled along the abandoned corridor, once owned by Seaboard Airline Railroad.

The trail carried passengers and mail between New York and Birmingham from May, 1947 until April, 1969.

Funding for the trail project is coming from various sources.

These include the Georgia General Assembly, the Recreational Trails Program, Cobb County, Paulding County, the City of Rockmart and private contributions to PATH.