Greenway enthusiasts joined together near the GE plant on Monday, Aug. 27 to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Mason Creek Greenway.

The Mason Creek Greenway will stretch for three miles along Mason Creek and will eventually connect the Hanging Rock Battlefield Trail to the Roanoke River Greenway, according to the National Scenic Byways Program website. This portion of the greenway system should be ready for foot and bike traffic by late fall.

The Mason Creek Greenway is just part of the plan to “continue to beautify Salem and this valley,” said Salem City mayor Randy Foley.

“My wife and I have walked on all the pieces of the greenway in Salem, and I’m looking forward to walking on this one,” said Congressman Bob Goodlatte, who helped to secure the funds for the Mason Creek Greenway.

Joining Foley and Goodlatte to show support at the groundbreaking ceremony Monday were Salem City vice mayor John Givens, Salem City Council members Jane Johnson, Lisa Garst and Bill Jones, GE plant manager Steve Roy, Roanoke Valley Greenway Coordinator Liz Belcher and many more!

Members of the Back Roads Bikers, nine retired GE engineers who bike in the area every Thursday, also cycled over to show their support at the groundbreaking.