Project Overview
Areté Structures supplied a new 55-foot FRP trail bridge over Catawba Creek in 2026. The bridge sits in the Catawba Valley, north of Roanoke, Virginia. Areté Structures assembled the full 55-foot span at its shop. Then, the team used a small crane to lift the completed bridge onto a truck. Afterward, the bridge was delivered to the site as a single prefabricated unit.
Bridge Specs
The 55-ft × 4.5-ft structure features a straight-end truss profile and a 54-inch safety railing. Pressure-treated Southern Yellow Pine decking sits atop the frame, which features an olive green finish. The superstructure uses Strongwell EXTREN® 500 Series pultruded shapes and is engineered for an 85 psf pedestrian live load. Because FRP resists corrosion, the bridge handles the damp creek setting and recurring freeze-thaw conditions common in a mountain valley. As a result, the FRP trail bridge requires very little long-term maintenance.
A Closer Look at the Andy Layne Trail
The bridge sits on the lower stretch of the Andy Layne Trail, a roughly 3-mile connector to the Appalachian Trail. The Appalachian Trail is a famed footpath spanning more than 2,100 miles through 14 states, from Georgia to Maine. On the approach to the new bridge over Catawba Creek, hikers pass through cow pastures and wildflowers.
After crossing the bridge, the trail climbs out of the valley past creek drainages and rock formations. Then, it reaches a junction with the Appalachian Trail. Less than a mile from that junction is Tinker Cliffs, one of the Appalachian Trail’s most-visited overlooks. In addition, Tinker Cliffs is part of Virginia’s celebrated “Triple Crown.” The other two destinations, McAfee Knob and Dragon’s Tooth, sit farther along the Appalachian Trail.
This durable crossing keeps one of Virginia’s most beloved backcountry approaches open and safe — carrying day hikers, thru-hikers, and weekend adventurers over Catawba Creek and on toward the cliffs.
