ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - City officials in Albany are trying to bring several upgrades to the Riverfront Trail.

City commissioners are planning to expand the park’s walking trail all the way to Chehaw Park and Zoo. Due to the difficulty of crossing both Philema Road and Lake Worth, commissioners plan to build what they are calling the “Chehaw Connector.”

“I use the trail on the regular basis with my family and my kids,” said Ward 4 Commissioner, Chad Warbington. “It would be a great extension of the trail to be able to go to Chehaw in addition to biking and walking on the trail. Then you can go enjoy Chehaw, which is a great park and asset to our community. This would just provide another means of transportation and fun, improving the quality of life of our citizens.”

The city has hired engineering consultant Robert and Company to tackle this expansion. A company representative addressed the commission during their meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 5.

The representative proposed two options when constructing the Connector.

Option A would have the Chehaw Trail Extension start by heading north from Cox Landing Park, passing beneath the Philema Road bridge next to Lake Worth. The trail would then rise to meet the road level and continue across the bridge.

Option B would have the Chehaw Trail Extension start by heading north from Cox Landing and use the south side of the Philema Road bridge at the road level. The trail crosses east on the bridge, loops under it on the south and then passes beneath the bridge. Then, the trail would turn east and climb up, aligning with the north side of Philema Road.

In addition to the Chehaw extension, commissioners said other trail amenities like exercise stations, observation decks, new signage and trash cans are also expected to arrive within the next year.

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook and X (Twitter). For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app from the Apple Store or Google Play.

Copyright 2025 WALB. All rights reserved.