Schuylkill Trail work will link Montco, Chesco projects

POTTSTOWN >> Construction on a new portion of the Schuylkill River Trail in Pottstown is scheduled to begin next week. The work eventually will cross a new bridge and join the Chester County portion of the popular trail.

Montgomery County, in coordination with the Borough of Pottstown, will be constructing a new portion of the Schuylkill River Trail in Pottstown. This new multiuse trail will be built along Industrial Highway between South Washington Street and Moser Road. Additionally, new signs and pavement markings alerting motorists to be on the lookout for cyclists will be installed on College Drive and Industrial Highway between Keystone Boulevard and South Washington Street.

This is the first of a two-phase project to connect the Schuylkill River Trail in Montgomery County to the new Route 422 bridge, which is currently under construction by PennDOT. When complete, the bridge will include a multiuse trail separated from motor traffic. Eventually, trail users will be able to cross the bridge and continue onto the Chester County portion of the Schuylkill River Trail, which is currently being designed.

The county has contracted with Flyway Excavating Inc. for construction services. Construction activities will take place beginning May 8 and should end by Oct. 12. During construction, the road will remain open to vehicular traffic apart from one or two overnight closures.

This phase of the Pottstown trail construction project includes:

• Construction of a new bike and pedestrian crossing at the intersection of Washington Street and Industrial Highway

• Construction of a multiuse trail between Washington Street and Moser Road (the trail will be

constructed within the existing right-of-way on the south side of Industrial Highway)

• Removal of the existing wire guardrail and replacement with modern W-Beam Steel Guardrail

• Stabilization of numerous storm sewer outfalls along the stream bank.

• New signage and pavement markings

MAP COURTESY OF THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS This map shows areas where current Schuylkill River trails exist and where they are being constructed. Construction on new portions of the trail is scheduled to begin on May 8 and is expected to be done by Oct. 12.