The now complete Virginia Capital Trail crosses Gillies Creek in Richmond. The silos in the background have been demolished.

Earlier this summer I wondered openly in a post if the Virginia Capital Trail would be ready in time for the hundreds of thousands of visitors who are supposed to accompany the UCI World Cycling Championships in late September (19th-27th). It still seemed like a long shot in early July, but since then the Richmond portion of the trail has exploded with paving and lighting and the demolition of the Lehigh Cement Silos.

I spoke with Beth Weisbrod this past Friday and she confirmed that the trail is nearly complete. As of this writing, you only had to hop off the trail in the New Market Heights sections briefly. And by the time you read this, you might be able to ride from Richmond to Jamestown and on a paved ribbon of asphalt separate from the road. The Times-Dispatch’s Brandon Shulleeta wrote about the trail’s soon-to-be completion in today’s Metro section.

Back in May, Weisbrod said the landscaping along the trail and at certain trailheads likely wouldn’t be finished until the end of the year, but now it looks like most of that will be done before the race as well. Pretty cool. If you get the chance, head out to Great Shiplock Park at Dock and Pear streets and walk east toward Rocketts Landing. It’s a gorgeous stroll that will only get nicer as the Lehigh Cement silos come fully down and the landscaping is complete.