Work is under way to complete the Butler Freeport Community Trail and connect the city to hundreds of miles of bike trails in Western Pennsylvania.

Chris Ziegler, president of the Butler Freeport Trail Council, updated city council Tuesday night on a bridge construction project that will connect Father Marinaro Park to the 20-mile trail from Freeport.

Work on the 135-foot long bridge began April 1 and is expected to be completed in June.

“To see that come out of the ground after 10 years is unbelievable,” Ziegler said.

The first portion of the trail opened in the early 1990s. Ziegler has been working to help complete the entire stretch for a decade.

Holbein Inc. of Sarver is handling the work. The 12-foot wide concrete bridge will be supported by six piers and 10 steel beams.

“This is a great resource to bring people into town,” said councilman Bill May. “It was through Chris’ leadership and tenacity that this trail will be completed.”

Buffalo Township, which owns the trail, received its final state Department of Environmental Protection permit last year, allowing construction of a bridge across Coal Run into Father Marinaro Park in the south side of Butler.

The trail connects five others stemming from Freeport. Work is being done to connect those trails to routes leading to Erie, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.

A roughly $90,000 grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources covered materials while the trail council will fund the estimated $55,000 in labor costs.

A $10,000 grant from the Rails to Trails Conservancy funded decking for the bridge.

The trail is designed for walkers, runners and bicyclists, and provides opportunities for people to enjoy nature and visit designated birding areas.

The bridge, to be named “Fellowship Crossing,” commemorates a group of people with a common interest along the same path.

May said he is excited about the soon to be completed bridge.

“I told the mayor if he spends one day on that trail he will trade his Harley for a Cannondale (bicycle),” he said.