The Carbon County Commissioners and the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor held a ribbon cutting for the Carbon County Connectivity Project on Friday.

The event was held at the D&L Trail: Marvin Gardens Trailhead, located at 2391-2399 East Lizard Creek Road, Lehighton, PA 18235. The ceremonial ribbon cutting marks the completion of construction by Semmel Excavating, Inc. of Allentown.

The $385,000 D&L Trail Carbon County Connectivity Project consists of the following components:

-- Connection of the D&L Trail from the Weissport, Lehigh Canal Park Trailhead to Lehighton through the installation of “share the road” signage and street markings along Bridge Street in Weissport.

-- Connection of the D&L Trail from Bridge Street to the “share the road” section of Lehigh Drive in Lehighton with the installation of an ADA compatible trail connection behind Red Castle Brewery.

-- The installation of a pedestrian crossing at Route 895 and Riverview Road in East Penn Township. This work will also include an ADA compatible approach to the D&L Trailhead at Marvin  Gardens.

-- The installation of “share the road” signage from the Route 895 pedestrian crossing to the D&L East Penn Boat Launch Trailhead along Riverview Road in East Penn Township.

Eight municipal partners collaborated on this complex project.  Funding was primarily provided by the Department of Conservation & Natural Resources.  Matching funds were awarded by the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, William Penn Foundation and from the construction of the new PA Turnpike Bridge in Parryville.

This project provides safer, more continuous trail access for local residents and eliminates three trail gaps, while the D&L works toward its goal to connect the 165-mile D&L Trail by 2020. 

With the completion of this project along with the upcoming D&L pedestrian bridge in Jim Thorpe in 2017, Carbon County will be the first of the five Corridor counties in which the D&L Trail is connected.

For more information, please contact Director - Trails & Conservation, Claire Sadler by sending email to: claire@delawareandlehigh.org or calling 610-923-3548 x226.

More information on programs, initiatives and other upcoming events is available by visiting the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the D&L Heritage Corridor (bottom of the page).

NewsClips:

Carbon County Celebrates Linking Of D&L Trail Sections

Crable: Lancaster Man 75 Hikes 2,100 Mile Appalachian Trail

Rail Trail Authority Honors York City, College

For Kids With Special Needs, A Trail Of Their Own

If Walls Could Talk: Cattell Cabin, Big Pocono State Park

Take 5 Fridays With Pam, PA Parks & Forests Foundation

Editorial: Parks Should Be Routine

Frye: Time To Choose A River Of The Year

Vote For Allegheny River For PA River Of The Year

Philly Bike-Share Program Hits Major Milestone

Related Story:

Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Corridor Breaks Ground On Trail Connector Project

11/21/2016