A new bike trail could connect Bellefonte to Milesburg.

Last week, a feasibility of the study was discussed by county officials.

The overall cost of the trail is estimated at $6.1 million which will be paid and developed in five phases.

They recommended that in order to get the project off the ground, local municipalities should come together to form a trail authority.

An official from the county planning office says this trail could connect a large portion of the county.

“This could be the start of a much larger network,” said Mike Bloom, Assistant Director, Centre County Planning Office. “This is kind of a key segment of a trail that could ultimately connect State College into Clinton County. You can really branch off a lot from this short section of trail here.”

The feasibility study determined there could be two trailheads, one in Bellefonte behind the CVS on High Street or at the Milesburg Community Park.

The Centre Daily Times broke down the different phases of the project:

“The proposed bicycle path stretches from the Bellefonte trailhead along the Dunlap Street corridor, crosses the Gamble Mill parking lot and follows the western edge of Spring Creek, then crosses Spring Creek by bridge to the eastern side, continues behind Tussey Mountain Outfitters by the Fish and Boat Commission access point and passes Sunnyside Paddling Park.

The second phase continues into Spring Township onto Bellefonte Municipal Authority treatment plant land and follows Route 144 along the front of the treatment plant, makes a left and then continues onto McCrossin property.

The third phase of the trail crosses over a tributary that feeds into Spring Creek, crosses Spring Creek by bridge into a wetland area on the western side, crosses another tributary and continues into Boggs Township.

The fourth phase continues along the western side of Spring Creek, crosses by bridge to the eastern side of Spring Creek and then bisects the historic Harmony Forge property on the eastern side of the canal ruins.

The final phase crosses into Milesburg Borough and curves right onto Church Street, where it passes the West Penn Power Transmission Station, then curves left onto Commercial Street, crosses the Commercial Street Bridge and ends at the Milesburg Community Park.”