(The following story by Cory Galliher appeared on the Cumberland Times-News website on May 19, 2010.)
CUMBERLAND, Md. — The effort toward rewatering the C&O Canal, one that has been in the works since 2007, is back on track after CSX decided not to allow the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad to connect to its main line last week, requiring the construction of a tunnel to remove several feet of railroad tracks out of the way of canal rewatering.
The National Park Service recommended the tunnel option via its Choosing By Advantage process and Canal Place decided to use it after meeting with CSX. The decision clears one of the primary obstacles impeding the progress of the $25.75 million rewatering plan: whether to use a bridge or a tunnel to move the tracks in question.
“The recent decision by CSX to not allow the scenic railroad to connect to their main line provides us the direction to go with the tunnel. Now that we have the tunnel decision in front of us and Canal Place starting up the master plan revision this summer as well, we’ll be able to continue that plan,” said C&O Canal Supervisor Kevin Brandt. “We will be able to continue with the rewatering.
“It’s taken a while and I know that a lot of people here in Cumberland and Allegany County have been disappointed that we haven’t extended the rewatering, but as shown by this weekend’s Boy Scout Camporee, seeing the canal actually being used is a thrilling sight,” said Brandt. “We have long envisioned that people would kayak and canoe as the canal was extended. Seeing the canal extend as far as it can, we think, is a great idea.”
Brandt said that a date for completion of the project had not yet been set. “It’ll probably take us the better part of a year to get this planning phase done, but in the interim we know that that’s what we want to do. We can start working on different funding scenarios and strategies.”
The project includes plans to revitalize the C&O Canal Towage Boat Yard in order to differentiate the project from other rewatering efforts in the area, such as a project in Hancock.
Hancock Mayor Daniel A. Murphy was not available for comment.
“We’re excited that the project’s going to move forward,” said Canal Place Executive Director Renee Bone. “One of our next steps is the architectural and engineering work along with securing the funding we need to finish the project.”
Bone added that the city of Cumberland will also be working on sewer lines at the bottom of the canal for its combined sewer overflow project at the same time as the proposed rewatering, so the two projects will take place in tandem.
“This is something that the park service, the Canal Place authority and the state of Maryland have long envisioned,” said Brandt. “We all need to focus our energies on it and work towards it, and it will happen.”