The whole Black Creek Greenway is open again, seven months early and about $200,000 under bid. The trail is now 12 feet wide, with a new bridge over Cary Parkway.

The whole Black Creek Greenway is open again. The last closed section, from Weston Parkway north to the Old Reedy Creek Trailhead at Lake Crabtree, has reopened after a renovation that finished seven months ahead of schedule.

The Town of Cary announced the reopening in a Nov. 2 news release. Work began in June 2024 on what was planned as a three-year job.

The greenway runs about seven miles from Fred G. Bond Metro Park to Old Reedy Creek Road. The town calls it one of Cary’s most popular greenway corridors. It is part of the East Coast Greenway, the trail network planned to run from Maine to Florida.

What changed on the trail

The renovation covered about 2.5 miles of the corridor. The town said the work included:

  • widening the trail to 12 feet
  • better drainage
  • straightening curves to make the trail safer
  • a new greenway connection near Dynasty Drive
  • a pedestrian bridge over Cary Parkway, with public art by artist Vicki Scuri
  • utility upgrades done at the same time, to limit future disruption

The Cary Parkway bridge opened in May with the second phase. The town said it gives trail users a safer crossing.

“The reopening of Black Creek Greenway restores an important connection for residents and visitors while making the trail safer and more accessible for everyone,” said Cassie Schumacher-Georgopoulos, Cary’s transportation director.

Under budget as well as early

The construction bid was nearly $17.5 million. The town now estimates the final construction cost at about $17.3 million, so roughly $200,000 under the bid.

The town said phasing the work with the contractor, Crowder Construction Company, let crews avoid slower winter construction and cut costs. The project’s construction updates page says each phase carried incentives for early completion.

How the closures ran

The work went in three phases, each closed and detoured while the rest of the trail stayed open, according to the project’s update page:

Phase Section Closed Reopened
1 West Dynasty Drive to Livingstone Drive June 2024 Aug. 29, 2025
2 Livingstone Drive to Weston Parkway September 2025 May 1, 2026
3 Weston Parkway to Old Reedy Creek Trailhead May 4, 2026 Fall 2026

The project’s August update said heavy rain in July had delayed work, and it still expected a winter reopening at that point. Its October update said the final phase was complete.

What it means for you

  • You can ride or walk the full length again. No detour is needed between Bond Park and Lake Crabtree.
  • Parking is at the Old Reedy Creek Road trailhead, North Cary Park, Godbold Park, the Black Creek Trailhead on Maynard Road and Bond Park. Our walking and biking trails guide has spaces and restrooms for each.
  • The rules are unchanged. Greenways are open dawn to dusk with a 15 mph speed limit for bikes.
  • The official celebration is Jan. 1. The town plans to mark the reopening at the Teen Council’s annual First Walk, 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 1, 2027, at North Cary Park.

The town said Cary passed 100 miles of greenways in 2026. More places to walk and play are in our parks and trails guide. Questions about the greenway go to Cary 311, or 919-469-4000 from outside town limits.