SHELBYVILLE, IL. —
The Little Illini Trail on Lake Shelbyville is back open thanks to the efforts of a Taylorville Eagle Scout candidate.
Justin Huber, 17, of Boy Scout Troop 68, spent a couple of Saturdays recently rebuilding a bridge across a dry creek bed within the first quarter mile of the trail at Lone Point Recreation area.
“Last summer we were doing hikes and dad was looking at trails. He found this was closed because of the bridge,” Justin said. “I was looking for an Eagle Scout project. So we talked to the Corps of Engineers about building the bridge.”
“They were very receptive to it,” said Justin’s father Vernon. “It was a nice challenge for him.”
The Illini Trail, which runs between Lone Point and Eagle Creek recreation areas, is the longest trail at Lake Shelbyville – 11 miles. The trail had been closed about a year partly due to the large tree that had fallen at the bridge.
“The Illini has been in need of repair for years now. Just by Justin working on the bridge is going to help us to reopen the Little Illini trail,” said Corps of Engineers ranger Jeremy Logan. “We’re very grateful to be back open.”
Logan noted that work is being done from the Eagle Creek end of the trail and the Corps is trying to get the whole trail open in phases until the full Chief Illini Trail is reopened.
Justin started planning for the bridge work late last summer. The Corps approved the plans and provided the lumber for the bridge.
“We used the same design as the original bridge. We did the schematic at home,” Justin said.
Justin, his father, Scout Tim Schaeffer, his uncle and carpentry advisor Jim Jachino, and Corps of Engineers ranger Matthew Durbin spent one day tearing out the rotting and broken parts of the bridge and another day rebuilding, bringing their own tools, generator-powered table saw, and carrying the lumber from the trailer by foot to the site.
The bridge has three supports across the planking of the nearly 37-foot span. The bridge is 4 feet wide with railings.
“They worked hard and he looked like he had a good crew,” Logan said.
“This is the second Eagle Scout project at Lake Shelbyville this year. We are working on a third project and possibly a fourth,” Logan said. “We encourage other Scouts to check with us for their Eagle Scout projects. We want to reestablish a relationship with the Scouts.”
Logan noted that materials for projects at Lake Shelbyville will be furnished by the Corps of Engineers.
“It’s in labor where we are hurting,” he said.
Local News
Related Photos
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Justin Huber.JPG Photo by Valorie Eversole
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Justin Huber (left) with his bridge building crew: Tim Schaeffer, father Vernon Huber, Corps of Engineers ranger Matthew Durbin, and uncle Jim Jachino. They spent the day June 23 rebuilding the bridge across a dry creek bed on the Little Illini Trail in Lone Point recreation area. Photo by Valorie Eversole
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The bridge on the Little Illini Trail was damaged by a fallen tree. Photo by Valorie Eversole
July 4, 2012
Eagle Scout Rebuilds Trail Bridge at Lone Point
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