Carbon County Construction, Improvements Moving Forward
The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor is making steady progress toward the completion of the entire D&L Trail in Carbon County. Heritage tourism in Carbon County accounts for $9.6 million annually; completion of the trail will help that figure increase. The map of Carbon County pinpoints D&L Trail segments that are completed, under design, or scheduled for construction. Within five years, a family should be able to hike or bike from Lehigh Gap to White Haven without leaving the D&L Trail.
- Lehigh Gorge State Park
Twenty-five miles of continuous trail from White Haven to the Glen Onoko Access, just north of Jim Thorpe.
Status: complete
- Nesquehoning Trestle A trail connector will be built on the Nesquehoning Railroad Trestle across the Lehigh River, connecting Lehigh Gorge State Park to Jim Thorpe. Status: OPEN
- Rail With Trail A crushed limestone trail 1.5 miles long will be built between the Nesquehoning Railroad Trestle and Jim Thorpe. Status: 2009 construction
- Pedestrian Bridge at Jim Thorpe A bridge for pedestrians and bicyclists will cross the Lehigh River from Jim Thorpe to the Lehigh Canal towpath. Status: construction by 2010.
- Jim Thorpe to Weissport Five miles of canal towpath to be re-surfaced; bridges, trailheads improved. Status: UNDER CONSTRUCTION
- Lehighton to Lehigh Gap Rail/trail, 6.8 miles long, crushed limestone. Status: design and permitting stage
Growth of D&L Trail Requires Management Changes
The Lehigh Canal Recreation Commission and a peer consultant determined that the LCRC has limited capacity, as it is currently structured, to continue as the D&L Trail’s management entity. The LCRC is a volunteer group with limited funding; the peer study determined that county government and local municipalities should be engaged in the development of a new trail management entity. Member municipalities will be able to take advantage of professional services such as grant writing, recreational planning, programming, open space acquisition and other technical assistance. The prospects are bright, but many issues must be resolved before the new entity assumes management responsibilities.
