New Development
   

     The Condo development in Conshohocken has completed the final trail through the development.  There is no longer a detour.  The County will be constructing a new trail cantilever on the Oaks bridge during the summer of 06.  This will require short delays and possible closures of the trail during construction, so visitors should be prepared and adjust their plans, accordingly.  When finished, the new cantilever will allow trail users to cross the bridge without any conflict with the new auto and truck users.   The cantilever should be completed by September of 06. 

    A feasibility study has been completed for an extension of the Trail from its current terminus at Oaks (the Perkiomen Trail) to Mont Clare and Phoenixville at Rt. 29. We will put the study on this web page.  Click here for more information.

     The Schuylkill River Trail will be extended in the Fall of 06 between Oaks and Mont Clare with the addition of a 2.5 mile paved trail along the river to Longford Road.   At that point trail users will need to share the roadways to reach Rt. 29.   Eventually, the Canal Tow Path will be restored and trail users will be able to travel on a new trail / canal tow path to Rt. 29 from Longford Road.   A new parking lot and trail head will be installed at Longford Road in 06.  In 2007 and 2008 a new river crossing will be built as part of the Betzwood Bridge (Rt. 363/Trooper Road) project, eliminating the need for trail users to cross on the narrow 422 board walk. "Schuylkill Sojourn comes at a time of progress for river" - editorial by Pottstown Mercury.

     In addition, Montgomery County and Chester County are begining design engineering for a much larger extension between Phoenixville in Chester County to Pottstown.  Again, keep an eye on this site for more information.

     The 12-foot wide asphalt-paved trail will use PECO Energy right-of-way corridors, former railroad corridors, roadway and utility right-of-ways, canal towpaths, public and private open space, and existing bridge and culvert structures. The trail will be a public-accessible, non-motorized biking and hiking trail for recreational, fitness, tourism and commuting purposes that will comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. This segment will eventually connect to the current trail terminus at Oak. The Chester County Parks & Recreation Department will be the project’s lead agency. Both counties will fund the project, as well as the Federal Highway Administration's Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21), through the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) administered by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC). Funds from this federal program will reimburse 80% of the project's costs. The matching 20% are from Chester and Montgomery Counties. 

     Chester and Montgomery County expect to have the project’s final design completed in 2007 with construction completed in 2007 or 2007.
LOCATION
New Pottstown area trail -

     Montgomery County will complete the 1.5 mile segment between Riverfront Park and the Berks county line during the fall of '05.  Scheduled opening date is Dec. 6. 

 
Under separate projects by Phoenixville Borough and Montgomery County, to the east this trail segment will connect to the existing Schuylkill River men Trails at Oaks. To the west, the trail meet with the Schuylkill River Greenway Association’s Thun Trail in Berks County.
TRAIL DETAILS

Chester and Montgomery Counties will determine the final alignment based on the preliminary design considerations including: property ownership; municipal official discussions; other stakeholders; terrain characteristics; environmental considerations; availability of right-of-way, and economic feasibility. The final alignment may not change from the preliminary, may be somewhat altered, or may be altered substantially.
Details of the preliminary alignment are summarized as follows:

1. The trail will be a public-accessible biking and hiking trail for recreational, fitness, tourism and commuting purposes. 

2. Total trail length will be approximately 14.56 miles, broken into trail constructed by others - 0.67 miles; new trail on 

3. The trail will have an asphalt-paved surface with an average maximum width of twelve feet, and four-foot grass road shoulders - 1.44 miles; and new trail off road - 12.45 miles, shoulders, and will be designed in accordance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines for accessibility and use.

4. The trail will be located within existing railroad and PECO Energy right-of-way corridors, former roadway and utility right-of-ways, canal towpaths, public and private open space, and over existing bridge and culvert structures.
 

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