Lexington County Council received an update Oct. 25 on progress for a coming extension to the Saluda River Greenway.

The planned 12-foot-wide greenway trail will connect the existing Saluda River Greenway, which runs along the river from Interstate 26 to Boyd Island near Columbia, to Lake Murray, according to Mark Smyers, executive director of the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission, who provided council with the latest developments.

”It will go all the way to the Irmo side of the dam,” Mark Smyers told the Chronicle.

Smyers told council the project is well under way and making progress toward completion, though a completion date is still a few years away.

While the second phase is almost complete, a final phase connecting the Gardendale area to the zoo will require a connection through the Interstate 20 and I-26 highway areas, which will necessitate some major renovations and bridge work.

When completed, the path will stretch approximately 10 miles along the scenic rivers, providing residents of the midlands with some of the most beautiful sights of Lexington County, Smyers said. He described the project as an “amenity” for those who love nature trails.

The existent greenway is popular with runners, bikers, and walkers, who often have dogs or baby carriages with them.

Smyers said he will not be asking Lexington County for more money to fund the project, which has already received $1.9 million from the county for the initial design work. The project will receive $8.1 million in state funding, bringing the total initial cost to approximately $10 million.    

The final cost of the project is estimated to be approximately $15 million, according to a feasibility study.