Appalachian Power’s Bancroft-Milton Transmission Line Rebuild Project has been the source of much controversy for Hurricane residents and the surrounding community. While the project would replace a transmission line which was first implemented over a hundred years ago, the proposed routes would go through Meeks Mountain Trails behind Hurricane City Park. Due to the construction and placement of the trails, running a transmission line through this area would destroy the paths of multiple trails and strike a devastating blow to the entire trail system.
Seeking community input about the project, Appalachian Power held two open houses last week, one at Valley Park on Tuesday, August 13, and one at the Winfield Community Center on Wednesday, August 14. Representatives from Appalachian Power were on site to take suggestions from the public, and several tables with maps were set up so that people could find out where their properties were in relation to the proposed transmission routes. Over 800 people came out to the Hurricane open house, creating long lines as people waited to sign in and let their voices be heard.
The fate of Meeks Mountain Trails is of great concern to the community. It is estimated that 300-400 people visit the trails per day, with even more coming to attend special events such as 100K competitions. In addition to hiking and biking competitions, Meeks Mountain Trails also hosts educational events such as wildflower and mushroom walks. The trails have been visited by people from every state in the union with the exception of North and South Dakota, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Hawaii. The Putnam County Convention and Visitors Bureau states that the economic impact from out-of-town visitors is at least $1.3 million annually.
“With the birth of the original 25526 trail plan in 2018 and the partnership between the City and the private landowners (the Meeks Family)—plus this amazing and growing community of volunteers, we are exceedingly proud of what has been accomplished so far,” the City of Hurricane stated in a Facebook post. “We’re proud not only about the building of the trails, but we have heard real-life testimonies about the improvement of the physical and mental health and well-being of people who call Hurricane home. Additionally, we are proud because outdoor enthusiasts are traveling in from all over our region and using these trails to hike, run and mountain bike on a regular basis. The opportunities we have seen for economic growth and tourism dollars are unmatched by any other single driver in the City of Hurricane now or in recent history.”
Work on Meeks Mountain Trails began in November of 2018. The project has relied upon volunteer labor to clear land and construct paths for hikers and bikers. As time passed and the trails grew in popularity, more and more members of the community became involved, with the number of volunteers surpassing 450. Volunteers have worked more than 26,000 hours to create over 30 miles of trails of varying difficulty levels. Both young and old have worked upon the project, with improvements to the trails having been the focus of several Eagle Scout projects.
Tuesday’s open house at Valley Park drew a large number of Meeks Mountain Trails supporters. The Putnam County Pedalers, a mountain biking team for middle and high school students, came out to the event to express their solidarity with Meeks Mountain Trails. The organization uses the trails on a regular basis; if the trails were destroyed, they would be forced to find a new location.
In recent decades, West Virginia has seen a shift towards outdoor tourism, with emphasis upon the state’s natural beauty and activities such as hiking, camping, fishing, four-wheeling, white water rafting, and kayaking. While Meeks Mountain Trails is relatively new addition, the trail system is an important part of Putnam County’s growing outdoor tourism industry.
In the weeks to come, Appalachian Power will be reviewing comments and suggestions which were submitted during the Hurricane and Winfield open houses. An update posted to the Bancroft-Milton Transmission Line website on August 19 states that the project team will be working with local officials and members of the community concerning the route options near Meeks Mountain Trails. Later this autumn, the team will establish a proposed route for the project. At this time, no route has been finalized.
For more information about the Bancroft-Milton Transmission Line Rebuild Project, go to https://www.aeptransmission.com/westvirginia/Bancroft-Milton/
