Nor-Bath Trail Improvements Start December 7
Nor-Bath Trail is just one of numerous trails running through the Lehigh Valley. It starts at Jacksonville Road, near Bath, and extends about six miles right into Northampton. It follows the same route once used by its eponymous Northampton and Bath Railroad. That railroad sold the track to Northampton County when it ceased operations. Ironically, it receives more use now than it ever did as a means of transportation. It's surface is mostly crushed stone, which is easy on both the feet and bicycles. . I've ridden on it several times over the summer, and love to stop and watch kids play basketball and baseball at Bicentennial Park. It's one of my favorites, but parts of it will be out of commission over the winter months.
Starting December 7, the County will resurface the trail over a 2.5 mile stretch between Weaversville Road in East Allen Tp and Clear Springs Road in Northampton. In addition, the County will add landscaping and fencing. At times, portions of the trail will be closed.
Nor-Bath Trail is the only county-owned trail, but it's a great way to connect to the granddaddy of all Lehigh Valley trails, the Delaware and Lehigh Trail. You can also connect to the Ironton Trail and the September 11 Memorial Trail.
11 comments:
I love the NorBath Trail. I think you aren't supposed to have dogs on it, or maybe that rule has been eliminated. We just ignored it. It is unique.
I often took my grandson's dog was on it. BT does not allow dogs in its parks, but I think they're ok at NorBath as long as they are leashed.
The NorBath Trail is a nice trail & I am glad it was expanded several years ago to link up with the D&L in Northampton. This re-surfacing of it was desperately needed. The stretch that was re-surfaced this past summer was wonderful to bike on. I hope that in the process the gates at the road crossings are improved since the existing ones were not only dangerous but many in disrepair. The only downside to the NorBath is that the motorists on Weaversville & Airport Roads do not slow down at the crossings.
Was a first-timer on the Ironton Rail Trail this autumn, and appreciate knowing we can add more mileage to that by linking to the NorBath. The Ironton loop is amazing -- no way I felt I was looping, it's got such a linear feel. We tried the newly-dedicated 3-mile Upper Bucks Rail Trail Extension Thanksgiving weekend, which links to the Saucon Rail Trail from Coopersburg to Hellertown. At the Saucon Trail terminus in Hellertown, you can get on another trail, some on-road and much of it not flat, but we wanted to see where we emerged. It was at a City of Bethlehem skatepark, across the street from the Wind Creek casino! Am blown away by where trail projects have gotten to, once advocates, planners and funding entities made them a priority. I hope you will come south and do some riding on the Perkiomen Trail, which, when you get to Valley Forge National Park, links to the Schuylkill Trail and takes you all the way to CC Philadelphia. Thanks for your continued sharing of these opportunities.
Thanks for sharing, Bernie. We're expecting to hear soon on a final piece of funding that will enable us to extend the D&L Trail south from Northampton into North Catasauqua in addition to funding for more detailed study for the southern part of the gap in the Lehigh Valley. The sooner we can get these connections and improvements made, the better. The traffic we saw on the D&L Trail this year blew away all previous records as more people sought safe, outdoor places to exercise and recreate.
So it appears the county is on the cheap again. The trial improvements were to included replacing the old railroad bridge with higher structure so that they don't keep getting hit. Guess that didn't or will not take place. Typical. Guess we needed the funding for some other "pet" project.
The trail improvements do include safety features. Having been on that trail numerous times, I have no idea what you're talking about with reference to an old bridge. The ones I've been on are fine. The biggest safety problems are, as Pathfinder has already noted, Airport and Weaversville Roads. There needs to be more signage but those are state roads and that is up to PennDOT. Unfortunately, a child was killed at Weaversville Rd a few years ago. There are signs there, but I wish there were more. The next biggest problem, as Pathfinder also noted, are the gates. I did a header at one of them this summer, although the primary cause of that was my stupidity.
Both structures that are over the creek and Bulls Head Rd. were to be raised with a new precast structure. Then the trail regraded and repaved. Ask the Parks Supt. That was 2 years ago.
Oh I've been on those many times. Both seem quite safe to me, and I have a rough time understanding your concern. But this project does include safety upgrades, so it might be addressing your point.
I certainly hope it is not paved. Crushed stone is better than asphalt for most purposes, and more environmental.
I also am in favor of crushed stone over asphalt. The IRT is now completely paved with asphalt and some cyclist use it for speed trials. The expanded Saucon Rail Trail (Upper Bucks Trail) is absolutely beautiful to ride. It is a wide crushed stone trail. Bernie, you have to bike this if you have not done so yet.
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