T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA The historic tunnel at the St.Clairsville Bike Trail is slated to be open roughly next week after over a year long construction project.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — After more than a year of construction, the historic tunnel rehabilitation project on the St. Clairsville Bike Trail is nearing completion.

Service Director Scott Harvey said the tunnel should reopen within the next week.

The nearly $3.3 million project, being handled by Shelly & Sands Inc., included a 90-foot extension on the south side of the tunnel, replacement of retaining walls, correction of slope failures, development of a trailhead and trail resurfacing.

Earlier this week, paving began on the section of trail from the gazebo to the tunnel, which Harvey believes will be completed by the end of this week.

Constructed in the early 1900s as a railroad tunnel, the structure later was turned over to the city as part of the Rails-to-Trails program, making it the only rail trail in Ohio with a tunnel.

Harvey said Shelly & Sands also has completed paving the upper parking area for the bike trail between Changes Hair Salon and the Round House gas station.

“They haven’t opened the parking lot just yet, but it should be open soon. And then that trail’s actually paved down the hill and looped it down to the stair landing, so that used to be just a dirt patch, basically. Well, now it’s paved and looks very nice and is easily traveled,” Harvey said. “The main trail, the construction area that they have from the gazebo to Staton Street is being paved. They should have that done by the end of the week, and at that point, if everything goes right, they will open the tunnel, we’re hoping for next week but it depends on the weather.”

He added that the steps on the north side of the tunnel will remain in place while work continues on the path from the upper parking lot to the trail.

Ohio Department of Transportation Regional Public Information Officer Morgan Eibel said in June 2025 that the project is expected to be completed in July.

Harvey said the project remains on schedule to meet that timeline.

He previously said he believes the project is important for the city because the bike trail is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is heavily used by residents and visitors.

“The safety issue for me is the biggest thing, I don’t have to worry anymore that something might happen off the hillside,” Harvey said.

Construction will not interfere with the city’s summer concert series, Gazebo Acoustic Nights. The series begins Friday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and will continue weekly through the end of July.

For more information, visit Stclairsvilleparksandrecreation.com.