Construction began today on the last remaining unfinished portion of the 61.5 mile long Silver Comet Trail between Cobb County and the Alabama state line.

Google map

PATH Foundation Executive Director Ed McBrayer, who is overseeing the project, says the 2.5 mile segment between Grady Road and US-27 East of Cedartown will be open to the public by Labor Day.

Silver Comet construction began in July of 1998 near Highway 92 in Hiram. The $20 million project meets the Chief Ladiga Trail at the Alabama border thereby connecting Anniston Alabama to metro Atlanta. When completed, the combined trail will be one of the longest paved trails in the U.S.

PATH plans to organize an extraordinary grand opening event somewhere near the Georgia-Alabama state line in the fall. (date to be announced). The event will honor all the “partners” that helped make the trail possible, including government officials, donors, and neighbors to the trail.

The 2.5 mile trail section presently under construction is being funded by the Transportation Enhancement Program administered by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and the donors to the PATH Foundation. The $1.1 million project was delayed by the US-27 Bypass widening project.

GDOT is putting the finishing touches on the bridge over the CSX railroad that will also bridge over the Silver Comet.