In case you haven’t heard, a bike trail is being built through Chelmsford.

The construction in Chelmsford is part of Phase One of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, which will ultimately go through the communities of Lowell, Chelmsford, Westford, Carlisle, Acton, Concord, Sudbury and Framingham. Phase One starts at the Lowell/Chelmsford line near Cross Point, and will follow the old rail line through Chelmsford Center to the the intersection of Routes 27 and 225 in Westford.

Construction information and trail maps are available on the Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail website. They also have planning information for the rest of the trail, and a link to the MassHighway project website which reports on construction status. This Friends group has been working on the trail with State and Local officials for many years, and is always open to new members.

A recent Boston Globe article outlined some of the issues surrounding the trail. There have also been many articles in the Chelmsford Independent and the newspapers of other communities along the line. And to see exactly where the trail will go, there is an interactive map available that overlays the trail route on street maps and aerial photography.

Phase One of the trail is scheduled to be completed in August 2009. Visit the Friends of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail website for more information.