Bicyclists, pedestrians to benefit from grants to 10 South Jersey towns
State aid to benefit bicyclists and pedestrians will build a long-awaited path between two parks in Delran, add sidewalks along busy roads in Cherry Hill and Voorhees, and help transform a Bridgeton landfill into a scenic overlook.The projects are among those taking shape in 10 South Jersey towns recently awarded some $6.2 million in competitive grants from the state Department of Transportation.Thanks to the state aid, “the numbers now make sense” for a planned path through a swampy strip of forest between Delran Community Park and Notre Dame Park, said the town’s mayor, Gary Catrambone.
The path will include a bridge over Swede's Run, a shallow stream in the woods.
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It would allow people to walk between the parks in a few minutes, a benefit for parents with children taking part in simultaneous events at each location, the mayor said.
Those parents currently must drive between the parks, a circuitous route that can take almost 10 minutes.
Delran received $447,000 in the latest round of DOT awards, after getting $1.2 million for the same project in 2022.
While construction has not yet started, the mayor said, “I’m hoping that somebody will be able to cross (the bridge) in a year.”
Delran also received $145,000 for sidewalk improvements on Hartford Road.
The DOT similarly approved grants of $994,000 for sidewalk improvements along Evesham Road in Cherry Hill and $800,000 for White Horse Road in Voorhees.
Voorhees also received $318,000 to build a bikeway/pedestrian path at its Maiaroto Recreation Complex on Echelon Road.
The 10-foot-wide path will replace a “failing, 40-year-old pedestrian path” at the Echelon Road complex, said Joseph Hale, the township’s code enforcement officer
“It is our hope to run the pathway around the entire perimeter of the complex,” he said.
“It will also connect to existing concession and restroom buildings and a new playground at the complex scheduled for installation in 2024,” he added.
In Bridgeton, a $621,000 grant will add bike trails with varying degrees of difficulty atop a closed and capped landfill near the Cohanzick Zoo.
City officials, helped by $587,000 in grants from other state agencies, also plan to add walking paths and nature observation centers to the 28-acre site.
“Construction’s likely to start in 2025,” said Kevin C. Rabago Sr., the city’s business administrator.
“Invasive species will be removed and the site will be seeded to create a pollinator meadow,” he said, noting the site will offer views of wildlife, including bald eagles and hawks.
The 65-foot-high landfill is one of the highest elevations in Bridgeton, Rabago added.
“Accordingly, it provides a scenic view of the Cohansey River and points further east,” he said.
A $525,000 grant will allow Camden County to complete a short link in a bike trail that’s expected to stretch 34 miles from the Ben Franklin Bridge to Winslow, said county spokesman Dan Keashen.
The 0.4-mile segment will run along East Atlantic Avenue, between Somerdale and Wakonda roads in Hi Nella.
Commissioner Jeffrey Nash said the county is “looking forward to getting this segment out of design and into construction in the near future.”
Other local towns receiving grants are:
Clementon - $590,000 for Berlin Road pedestrian improvements
Harrison - $68,000 for pedestrian improvements at Ella Harris Park
Laurel Springs - $135,000 for pedestrian improvements
Lawnside -$860,000 for a bike path project
Lindenwold - $275,000 for the Lindenwold Park bikeway connector
Lumberton - $447,000 for a bikeway at the municipal complex
Statewide, DOT provided $13.5 million in Safe Street to Transit grants and $7.9 million in Bikeway Grants.
Jim Walsh is a senior reporter for the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daly Journal. Email: Jwalsh@cpsj.com.
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: DOT awards aid for bikeway and pedestrian-safety projects
