Piece by piece, connections are being made.
That is the aim of the Greenville Loop Trail, a 4.4-mile multiuse path project that will connect schools, parks, shopping centers and residential neighborhoods in Wilmington.
As outlined by the city, the route begins at the intersection of South College Road and Holly Tree Road, running along Holly Tree Road, Pine Grove Drive and the full length of Greenville Loop Road. On the north end, the trail will cross Oleander Drive, ending at the intersection of Greenville Avenue and Park Avenue.
The Greenville Loop Trail will provide direct connections to the Central College Trail and the River to the Sea Bikeway.
Phase 1 of the project has been completed on the south end. New traffic and pedestrian crossing signals
have been installed and are in place at a pedestrian crossing at Bradley Creek Elementary School. A signalized pedestrian and bicycle crossing at Holly Tree Road is finished, connecting users to the Central College Trail.
A trail segment running along Holly Tree Road from South College Road to the Pine Grove Drive intersection was completed in 2023.
Work remains to be done, though, with three more phases of the project.
Phase 2 work running from the intersection of Greenville Loop Road and Pine Grove Drive is underway. It is anticipated to wrap up this summer.
Construction is also underway on a segment from Old Military Road to Park Avenue, with a new pedestrian crossing at Oleander Drive. That is expected to be completed in mid-2027.
Phase 4, the final phase, runs along Pine Grove Drive from Greenville Loop Road to Holly Tree Road. This work is to be completed in tandem with an upcoming roundabout construction at the Greenville Loop Road/Pine Grove Drive intersection. It is scheduled to begin in late 2026.
Bob Liepa is the city of Wilmington and public safety reporter for the StarNews. You can reach him at RLiepa@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: How a trail project is connecting Wilmington
