$1.65 Million Resurfacing Project Begins on Buffalo Valley Rail Trail

Ruts, mud patches, and a narrowed tread line have worn down the eastern miles of the Buffalo Valley Rail Trail since Penn State specialists recommended resurfacing back in 2019. That repair window has finally opened: contractor M&J Excavating of Sugarloaf mobilized this week on a $1.65 million project targeting six miles between Meadow Green Drive in Mifflinburg and Bull Run Crossing in East Buffalo Township, with Trail Manager John Del Vecchio setting a June 30 completion target.

At roughly $275,000 per mile, the work will place a new layer of Trail Surface Aggregate directly over the existing surface along the entire six-mile corridor. Del Vecchio described the combined effect: "This will not only provide a new stable surface for trail users to enjoy but will also eliminate low spots and muddy spots and improve drainage, and will also reestablish the original 10-foot width of the trail." That 10-foot width, original to the trail's design, had narrowed in sections as the surface aged and rutted over years of heavy use.

The project will be staged to avoid shutting down the full trail at any one point. "There is no plan to close the entire trail at any one time," Del Vecchio said. Expect short work-zone closures at active sections as M&J moves through the corridor over the coming two months. Del Vecchio directed users to observe posted "trail closed" and "workers ahead" signs and to follow the Buffalo Valley Rail Trail Facebook page for real-time updates on which sections are open or restricted on any given day.

Funding for the $1.65 million project came together through a combination of grants and local visitor-bureau dollars, a package the Union County Trail Authority secured before the contract went to bid.

The TSA surface was originally specified using guidance from Penn State's Dirt and Gravel Road Studies program, which evaluated the trail in 2019 and flagged resurfacing as a priority. That need grew more pressing after 2020, when pandemic-era outdoor recreation increased foot and bicycle traffic on the unpaved section well beyond original design expectations.

The Buffalo Valley Rail Trail runs roughly 9.5 miles between Lewisburg and Mifflinburg along a former rail corridor, opening in phases from 2011 through 2015. The Union County Trail Authority took over management in 2018. Finishing the six-mile resurfacing zone by June 30 would put a restored, stable surface in place before peak summer use.