Sudbury 'Very Concerned' About Illicit Use Of Bruce Freeman Rail Trail

SUDBURY, MA — The first leg of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail in Sudbury is tantalizingly close to opening, but town officials are (again) reminding residents that it's not open yet.

In an update this week, the Planning and Community Development Department revealed that new bike stations, crossing signals, benches and granite markers have been installed along the Bruce Freeman trail between the Concord line and near the Boston Post Road — but that doesn't mean you can use it yet.

"Using the trail is at your own risk — please observe caution if you insist on using the path," the department said in a July update. "Town officials are very concerned about the numbers of people already using the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail while it is an active construction zone, crossing public ways without taking notice of traffic conditions, and trespassing over private property abutting the trail."

Town officials have previously said the trail could open as soon as September or October. Planning officials reminded that the construction contract doesn't expire until June 2025, however.

The under-construction section, called Phase 2D, is one of two Bruce Freeman sections that will cross Sudbury. The second section, Phase 3, will travel from near Union Avenue and the Post Road south just over the Framingham line. The town recently crossed a major Phase 3 milestone, submitting 25% design plans in July to the state for review.

The entirely separate Mass Central Rail Trail project is also underway. The trail will be built on top of Eversource transmission lines that are being buried along a former east-west rail line. Once that work is complete — expected as soon as the first quarter of 2025 — the state Department of Conservation and Recreation will begin paving the new Mass Central Rail Trail section.