Winchester Green Circle

Trail Description

NOTE: The Amherst Street Utility Infrastructure Improvement Project is slated to begin fall of 2011.  During the construction process, users should follow the below directions:

     -  Follow Amherst Street to Whittier Avenue
     -  Make a right on Whittier Avenue to Linden Drive
     -  Turn left on Linden Drive
     -  Turn right on Amherst Street
     -  Proceed to Westside Station Drive

This section heads west from Old Town Winchester and the Loudoun Street Mall following Boscawen Street to Amherst Street en route to the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, Whittier Park, and the Winchester Medical Center.  Currently there is no dedicated or separated trail for this segment.  Facilities include sidewalks for the majority of the segment and cycling accommodations are through shared roadway.  No designated bike route has been established, but the speed limit on Amherst Street was lowered to 25 MPH in 2006 to allow safer conditions for shared use.  These accommodations are suitable for A- and B-level cyclists but not for level C.

Surfaces: There is no strictly dedicated trail along this portion. Existing sidewalks vary greatly in width and composition from patterned bricks in the downtown area to cement on other stretches. There are currently no designated bike lanes, although they may be possible on the wider, western portions of Amherst Street.  Amherst Street (west of Whittier Avenue) is scheduled for resurfacing and curb and gutter in 2011-2012.  The project includes installation of the Green Circle Trail along the south side of Amherst Street tying in with the short section of trail in front of the CVS Pharmacy at Amherst Street and Meadow Branch Avenue.

Length of Section: The total length of this trail portion from the mall to the entrance to the Winchester Medical Center is slightly longer than one mile.

Entry and Exit Points: This segment runs along existing city streets so there are no formal entry and exit points.