The Goodloe E. Byron Memorial Pedestrian Walkway across the Potomac River at Harpers Ferry is open. A train derailment damaged the bridge last year.

/ National Park Service

This story was updated at 10:30 a.m. on July 7.

The footbridge that carries Appalachian Trail hikers across the Potomac River near Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, is now reopened six months after a train derailment damaged it.

The bridge is a key pedestrian connection between the town and the C&O Canal towpath, a popular recreational and cycling trail, and Maryland Heights, a popular hiking overlook with stunning views. It is also a scenic spot for visitors to the historic town, which is known for John Brown’s raid.

The reopening might come as good news to hikers, but the coronavirus pandemic has limited the overall number of visitors and trail hikers this year. More than 1,700 hikers who trekked the whole 2,190-mile trail went through Harpers Ferry in 2019. Many more day hikers and others use the bridge annually. Nearly 300,000 people visited Harpers Ferry National Historical Park last year, the Washington Post reported.

A CSX train derailment on Dec. 21, 2019 damaged about a quarter of the bridge closest to Harpers Ferry. It reopened over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

A report from the Federal Railroad Administration determined operator error caused the derailment of the train, which had empty grain cars, according to The Journal.

CSX will pay for the repairs but declined to give the cost estimate. In a statement, the National Park Service said it “worked cooperatively with CSX to repair the pedestrian bridge.”

In March, the Park Service said it had done a damage assessment that allows NPS to seek damages. “Working cooperatively with the responsible party can expedite the assessment and repairs, thus the NPS has been in contact with CSX with this as a goal,” a March release said.

In that same release, acting National Capital Area Director Lisa Mendelson-Ielmini said, “We know the local communities and visitors to the park rely on the footbridge daily, and we are eager to have it back in place.”

Appalachian Trail through-hikers were asked to arrange private transportation as there were no other safe walking options across the river, according to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. NPS explored the idea of a shuttle, but it never launched.

This story was updated to add comment from CSX.

This story originally appeared on wamu.org

Filed Under: local, transportation,