A construction crew works to reinforce the walls of the East Brady Tunnel on the Armstrong Trail. Work on the tunnel has since been completed, and it is scheduled for a grand opening Nov. 1. Submitted photo

For more than 30 years, the 2,468 feet of the East Brady Tunnel has kept people from crossing from East Brady into the other 50 miles of the Armstrong Trail, but soon there will be light at the end of the tunnel.

About five years ago, members of the Allegheny Trails embarked on a project to renovate the tunnel to make it safe to travel through; and the finished project will be unveiled at a special event Nov. 1.

The tunnel was not safe for pedestrian use because its bricks were falling out, and there was a hole in part of the ceiling that was about 20 feet wide. The structural issues also led to flooding in the tunnel, which Chris Ziegler, director of Allegheny Trails, said could practically be kayaked through.

Ziegler said these issues have been fixed by a construction crew, and the tunnel is reinforced by steel liner and other support to keep it stable.

Although the project cost more than $7 million, paid for entirely by grant funding, Ziegler said the renovation of other Pennsylvania trails has led to better access and visitation to particular regions, adding economic value to communities along the routes.

She added that the Great Allegheny Passage, a 150-mile path that spans from Cumberland, Md. to Pittsburgh has an economic impact of $21 million.

“(Allegheny Passage) has 1.2 million users a year, and an economic impact of $21 million. We want to bring that to our region and really contribute to Pennsylvania’s economic impact,” Ziegler said. “We’re pretty proud in the fact that this is going to add viability to our communities and they’ll grow.”

Armstrong Trails is part of the Erie to Pittsburgh Trail, which is 270 miles in length. Ziegler said the part of the trail beyond the tunnel is relatively untouched by humans, and the scenery is beautiful.

On the day of the grand opening, registered attendees can walk, bike or be transported by shuttle a little over a mile down the trail to the tunnel, which will remain closed until 11 a.m. There will be speakers at the opening, and then the trail officials will unveil the completed tunnel, and allow for a walk-through.

“We will open the southern portal door, and we will walk or ride to the other end of the tunnel and see that five miles, which is spectacular, it is so beautiful,” Ziegler said.

Ziegler also said the trails organization plans to install lights in the tunnel, which will be another project in itself. The organization plans to pursue solar powered lights, but if that isn’t feasible, they will bore a hole under the tunnel to connect the lights to electricity.

The tunnel project received funding from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the state Department of Transportation and Crawford County, which together covered the $7.7 million price tag.

The grand opening ceremony for the East Brady Tunnel begins at 11 a.m. Nov. 1. Registration is required to attend, but can be completed online at averybradytunnelopening.eventbrite.com.