Once completed, the $2.2 million project, funded by a partnership between the town and the N.C. Department of Transportation, will offer cyclists, walkers and even horseback riders new options to travel from Wake County to Durham County.

Doug McRainey of the town of Cary's parks and recreation department, which is overseeing the construction of the project, said the trail through Chatham County is already being used, even though it is officially closed to the public.

And while it's probably not condoned, "it speaks well, in one sense, that people are already out there enjoying the trails," McRainey said.

McRainey said the trails should open within the next few weeks.

The American Tobacco Trail has been under development since 2005. Construction of the newest section of the trail will bring the 23-mile uninterrupted trail, from downtown Durham to New Hill Road in western Wake County, closer to completion.

Portions of the trail south of the Amberly development near the Wake-Chatham county line will remain unpaved, McRainey said. Sections north of New Hope Church Road will contain a 10-foot wide paved trail and a six-foot wide bridal trail.

Although the Chatham County project falls outside of Cary's jurisdiction, town officials say the trails will benefit citizens here.

McRainey also noted that, in exchange for the town of Cary's help in administering the project, Chatham County commissioners agreed to contribute $60,000 toward development of a trail head of the American Tobacco Trail on a 12-acre site near the Amberly development in western Cary.

"This will have benefits not only for our citizens," he said, "but for our region."