ALBANY COUNTY — The Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail rehabilitation project has been named the 2016 Project of the Year in the Transportation category by the New York Chapter, Capital Branch of the American Public Works Association.

The project was selected in the under-$5 million category and the award will be presented to Albany County with certificate recognition to Greenman-Petersen, the consulting engineer along with Peter Luizzi Bros. Contractors Inc., contractor on the project, which was unveiled in May of 2016.

The $3.5 million project included the construction and paving of 3.2 miles of the rail trail from Delmar to South Pearl Street in Albany and included the rehabilitation of five railroad bridges and three cattle passes and construction of a 10-foot wide paved path to be used by walkers and bicyclists.

Also included in the project was the installation of safety measures on steep embankments, including safety railings and fencing. Construction began in March 2015 and the project opened to the public in May 2016.