The Virginia Beach Trail #VBTrail is a proposed 12-mile shared-use path within the former Norfolk Southern Railroad Corridor. The trail will provide a continuous east-west connection from the western city limit at Newtown Road to the Oceanfront. The design and construction of the trail is divided into
five phases. The eastern-most 1.5 miles of shared-use path is already constructed between Birdneck Road and Pacific Avenue. The remaining 10.5 miles are proposed to include two pedestrian bridges over waterways and a pedestrian bridge over Independence Boulevard.
Watch WAVY-TV coverage: Virginia Beach Trail could be ‘life-changing’ when complete
Phase 1
Phase One of the Virginia Beach Trail will begin in the Town Center area and provide access for pedestrians and bicyclists throughout the
Pembroke Strategic Growth Area (SGA) as well as provide the northern loop connection to the
Thalia Creek Greenway project.
Phase 2
Phase Two will be constructed closer to the oceanfront, connecting the existing Norfolk Avenue shared-use path where it ends at Birdneck Road and will continue westward.
Phases 3 - 5
The remaining three phases will fill in the gaps to complete the project with a continuous ten-foot-wide asphalt trail.
The VB Trail has been a part of the City Council adopted
Virginia Beach Bikeways and Trails Plan since 1981 and has continued to be a priority project. Continuation of the design and construction of the project is pending future funding.
The 10.5-mile Virginia Beach Trail would be the final connection to the Atlantic Ocean from the existing
South Hampton Roads Trail, a regional trail that currently runs through Suffolk, Portsmouth, Norfolk, and Chesapeake.