Contractors have removed the final obstacles for pedestrians and bicyclists along the two-and-a-half mile Route 434 Greenway.

The final barricades along the route from Binghamton University's Vestal campus to Washington Street in the city are gone.

A directional sign on the Binghamton section of the Route 434 Greenway on August 7, 2023. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
A directional sign on the Binghamton section of the Route 434 Greenway on August 7, 2023. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
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The state Department of Transportation has made no formal announcement of the opening of the $25.4 million paved trail. It's not known when an official opening ceremony will be held to herald completion of the long-discussed project.

People started to try out the Greenway for walking, jogging and biking a couple of weeks ago when most of the barricades were removed.

Some sections remained off-limits until last Friday while the contractor and the DOT worked to address some final details.

The Greenway completion comes just ahead of the return of Binghamton University students for the start of fall semester classes.

The project had been discussed and debated for more than a decade. Some Binghamton residents expressed strong opposition to the Greenway route that eventually was chosen.

This connector leads from the Greenway to Vestal Avenue at Ivanhoe Road. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
This connector leads from the Greenway to Vestal Avenue at Ivanhoe Road. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
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People on the South Side who live near the short paved path that connects Vestal Avenue with the Greenway tried unsuccessfully to block that aspect of the project.

A marked crosswalk with hard-to-miss fluorescent yellow-green signs and flashing warning light has been installed at Vestal Avenue and Ivanhoe Road at the south end of the connector.

VIDEO: An inspection of the Greenway after all barricades were removed.

VIDEO: The view of the Binghamton segment of the Greenway from Route 434.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.

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