WELLFLEET – The Herring River Overlook Trail, off Chequessett Neck Road, offers fantastic views of the Herring River as well as something of a bird’s eye view of the new temporary bridge being constructed to continue the large river restoration project.
The trail, a mile-long loop hike through the 20-acre parcel, goes through some interesting pitch pine wooded areas and the trail hugs the edge of a ledge overlooking the Herring River. It is quite a spectacular view.
A giant construction crane came into view. The crane was dormant that day, but it is at the site working on the temporary bridge that will allow for a new bridge to eventually be built.
According to the National Park Service website, “the tidally-restrictive dike at the mouth of the river is being replaced with a bridge that will allow tidal water to flow freely between the river and Wellfleet Harbor. Increasing tidal flow will also bring saltwater back to the river and return it to the thriving and ecologically productive estuary it was for thousands of years before the dike was built.”
It is an enormous project, funded by, according to a sign at the site, “Joe Biden’s Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Law.”
Seeing it from the Overlook Trail offered a new perspective on the project, which we had previously seen from Chequessett Neck Road. In fact, the trail itself was a revelation. I’ll be back later to check on how the project progresses.
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