Leading the bike charge was County Executive William Steinhaus, in yellow shirt.

POUGHKEEPSIE – Phase II of the Dutchess Rail Trail was opened during a ceremony in the Town of Poughkeepsie on Thursday and a large number of area residents took to the pavement for a bike ride. Among them was County Executive William Steinhaus.

The new stretch is a 2.4 mile section from Morgan Lake south to Overrocker Road.

When completed, the trail will be a 12 mile long path that will run through the middle of the county along the former Maybrook Rail corridor including the towns of Poughkeepsie, LaGrange, Wappinger and East Fishkill.

Phase I, which was opened two years ago, is a 1.7 million section in East Fishkill that extends between Route 376 and Lake Walton Road.

Construction of the remaining sections is scheduled for next year.