EASTERN SHORE — On Sept. 21, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) officially opened the second completed segment of the Eastern Shore Rail to Trail (ESRT) to the public in Cheriton. This latest milestone continues to progress the longstanding vision of a 49.1-mile trail that will eventually stretch from Cape Charles to Hallwood.
Constructed as part of a $3.9 million VDOT construction project to deliver the ESRT’s first two segments in Northampton County, the newly completed Cheriton Segment provides residents and visitors with an additional 1.4 miles of paved shared-use path for walking and bicycling between Route 13 (Lankford Highway) and Sunnyside Road. The segment also includes a new trailhead parking lot just north of Country Place and striped bicycle lanes extending along Sunnyside Road to South Bayside Road.
The Cheriton Segment joins the recently completed Cape Charles Segment of the ESRT, which opened on Aug. 20, 2026, between Cape Charles and Route 13. Together, the two segments provide 3.6 continuous miles of shared-use path.
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Construction of both segments was completed ahead of the overall project’s contract completion date in mid-fall. Cyclists and pedestrians using the trail should remain alert as crews complete final remaining work activities such as cutting grass and seeding.
Project highlights: Eastern Shore Rail to Trail Cape Charles, Cheriton segments
The $3.9 million construction contract was awarded to Branscome, Inc., which began construction on the first two segments in April 2025, which include:
- Cape Charles Segment The 2.2-mile segment begins at the intersection of Fig Street and Mason Avenue in Cape Charles and extends to the shopping center near Route 13 (Lankford Highway) and Country Place. This segment also includes the addition of a trailhead parking lot at Mason Avenue and Fig Street.
- Cheriton Segment This 1.4-mile segment continues northward from Route 13 (Lankford Highway) and Country Place to Sunnyside Road in Cheriton. A new trailhead parking lot has been constructed just north of Country Place. Improvements also include the addition of 0.5 mile of striped bicycle lanes along Sunnyside Road, extending from the shared-use path to South Bayside Road.
For more information on the Eastern Shore Rail to Trail Cape Charles and Cheriton Segments Project, visit Eastern Shore Rail to Trail Cape Charles and Cheriton Segments Project web page (www.vdot.virginia.gov/projects/hampton-roads-district/eastern-shore-rail-to-trail-project---cape-charles-and-cheriton-segments/).
