As many of you know, construction of the new turnpike bridge over the Lehigh River at Parryville has been ongoing for a couple of years now.  In 2008, Jim Deebil of the Lehighton Sewer Authority contacted the D&L’s trail manager, Scott Everett, to express his interest in including construction of the trail, which runs along the western bank of the river, as part of the bridge project.  The contractor had to build an access road along the former rail corridor to get equipment to the construction site, so they agreed to grade and resurface the road as a trail at the project completion. (How’s that for an innovative way to get a trail built!)

The new trail section is being completed as part of a PA Turnpike bridge construction project.

The 1.2-mile section north of the bridge project to the Lehighton treatment plant access road is now complete.  The 1.3-mile section south of the project to East Penn Township’s Marvin Gardens cul-de-sac will be completed after the old turnpike bridge is demolished later in 2012.  This will give us a 2.5-mile section of new trail that links Lehighton to East Penn Township!

For now, the entire section remains an active construction zone, and we ask that you observe all no trespassing signs and other regulations. Check back for more updates about the completion of the newest section of the D&L Trail!

Looking north toward Lehighton.

I am pleased to report that repairs are well underway on the Weissport section the D&L Trail that was damaged by the March Flooding. My thanks to the efforts of the Lehighton Water Authority in getting the trail passable.

Crews repair the trail surface in Weissport.

The repairs will occur over the next few months. The base has been repaired in the worst sections, where the water either blew out the towpath or eroded deep gouges in the path. I was able to ride my bike the entire length last week, but it is only passable using bikes with fat tires. The entire length is also suitable for walking with sturdy shoes. There remains an impassable section at the north end of the railroad trestle above Lock 4.

Please check our website for updates on the repairs.

Written by Scott Everett, Stewardship & Trails Manager

I am pleased to inform everyone that the Slatington Trailhead is almost complete.  Work began about two weeks ago.  When complete, the trailhead will provide parking for approximately 35 vehicles, full ADA access to the trail and landscaping around the perimeter.  The new trailhead will provide a green, welcoming gateway to the borough of Slatington, an important town on the 165-mile D&L Trail.

Work continues on improvements to the Slatington trailhead.

Work remains to be done on the restrooms and pavilion, an undertaking of various service groups in the greater Northern Lehigh area.

The new Slatington trailhead will serve as a gateway to the community.

The Trailhead is located on Main Street in Slatington (Route 946), about a mile west of Route 145 in Walnutport.  The recently completed 9.2 mile section of D&L Trail is accessible from the south end of the trailhead while the 5.7 mile section of D&L Trail is accessible across Main Street from the trailhead.

Please check our website for news of the opening.

Written by Scott Everett, D&L Trail Manager

I sit here writing this update as yet another spring shower passes and the rain has prevented work on the trail.  There is, however, some great news to report on both projects.

The resumption of both the 6.5-mile project in Lehigh County and the 2.9-mile project in Carbon County saw a significant delay the first few months of 2011.  The lengthy snow pack coupled with numerous rainstorms required us to wait until things dried out.  Since the East Penn Township, Carbon County project was not as far along as the Lehigh County project, the contractor was able to work through this weather on completing the drainage portion of the project but little else.  With the Lehigh County project awaiting the base surface, we had no choice but to wait until the weather cooperated.

Progress continues on Lehigh County's new section of trail.

I am pleased to report that the past two weeks has seen significant progress on both projects.  On Lehigh County’s D&L Trail project, the base material has now been laid for the entire 6.5 miles and the top surfacing has just begun.  The trail is still a construction zone with heavy equipment and dump trucks everywhere.  For your own safety, we ask that people observe all cautionary signage including “Road Closed” on the trail when posted.  I will keep everyone up to speed on progress as the County approaches completion of the project.

A work crew lays down the trail base on East Penn's new section of trail.

On our D&L Trail project in East Penn Township, work started yesterday in laying the base surface of limestone.  Ironically, all of the spring rain allowed us to get a much better handle on the drainage issues and enabled us to add additional swales and pipes to further ensure stability of the trail surface.  For your personal safety, I would ask that everyone also observe the “Trail Closed” signs on this project when posted.

I am looking forward to everyone being able to experience these beautiful sections of D&L Trail with the scenic Lehigh River running adjacent to most of it.  When completed, there will be a roughly 15-mile section of improved D&L Trail from the Cementon Trailhead in Whitehall Township, Lehigh County to the East Penn Boat Launch at Riverview Park in East Penn Township, Carbon County.

Please check back here for frequent updates as these projects near their completions.

Thanks,
Scott

Written by H. Scott Everett, D&L Stewardship and Trail Manager

I am pleased to inform everyone that construction has started on the East Penn Section of the D&L Trail.  This 2.9-mile project will extend from the Lehigh / Carbon County line (just north of Lehigh Gap Nature Center) to the East Penn Boat Launch.  Work will consist of drainage improvements and trail surfacing.

Crews begin work on the East Penn to Lehigh Gap section of the D&L Trail.

Due to safety concerns, the D&L Trail will be closed along this 2.9-mile section.  During the construction period, hikers will still be able to access the trails within the Lehigh Gap Nature Center, and bikers can still use the L&NE Trail, which follows the upper rail bed through the Nature Center.

Crews will install new culverts, grade, and install a new trail surface.

We will be reviewing the trail construction status on a regular basis and will open the trail for usage when conditions permit.   Please check the D&L blog and website for updates.