Officials recently cut the ribbon on the 0.1-mile Bridge Street Crossing along the D&L Trail in Morrisville.

The new segment, which consists of two ramps and a street crossing, forges an ADA-accessible connection on the D&L Trail that was previously impassable due to the bridge abutment at Bridge Street; creates a more-than-75-mile section of uninterrupted trail from Allentown to Bristol; and closes one of Pennsylvania’s Top 10 Trail Gaps.

“The new Bridge Street trail crossing is a major accomplishment for the D&L Trail, Delaware Canal State Park, and the downtown community in Morrisville,” said Claire W. Sadler, executive director of the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (DLNHC). “This project improves not just the mobility of trail users, but their safety along the section of trail as well. What may appear to be a small road crossing, in reality, is a major connector between nine miles of towpath trail south to Bristol and 50 miles north to Easton along the Delaware Canal. This crossing not only fills a gap in the trail network but connects trail users to businesses along Bridge Street — the results of which we’re already seeing through two new trail friendly businesses that are eager to greet visitors.”

Leaders from DLNHC, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC), the Borough of Morrisville, Bucks County, Delaware Canal State Park, Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), PennDOT, the Circuit Trails, East Coast Greenway Alliance, and Loftus Construction were in attendance to celebrate this momentous feat.

The D&L Trail Bridge Street gap was designated one of Pennsylvania’s Top 10 Trail Gaps by DCNR in 2016 as part of an effort to identify and complete more of the state’s trail network. The completed Bridge Street connector also creates a vital link in the Circuit Trails network, a system of more than 850 planned miles of multiuse trails in the Greater Philadelphia and southern New Jersey region, and the East Coast Greenway, a walking and biking route stretching 3,000 miles from Maine to Florida.

“This project is a testament to the power of partnerships and the value trails add in communities across the Commonwealth,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “We thank Morrisville for prioritizing trails and seeing the positive impact they provide to the borough and its businesses. This helps DCNR close one of our Top 10 Trail Gaps and will connect communities, create jobs, and give more people the chance to enjoy the outdoors.”

The Bridge Street connector project began in 2012 and construction was completed in December 2023. Support for project planning and design came from DCNR, the William Penn Foundation, DLNHC, and DVRPC. The funding for construction came from PennDOT Transportation Congestion Mitigation Air Quality (CMAQ) Program funds, which were earmarked as a result of advocacy by the Circuit Trails Coalition in 2015.

“Closing this gap is a major win for the community and the connectivity for the region; more than 75 miles of uninterrupted trail is a game-changer for recreation and local transportation enhancing the experience of people using the trails for a multitude of reasons,” said Patrick Starr, chair of the Circuit Trails Coalition and executive vice president of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council’s southeast region. “The Circuit Trails Coalition has a goal of completing 500 miles of trails in the region by 2025, and with less than two years left to make that a reality, closing more gaps like this must be a priority at both the local and state level.”

The D&L Trail is one of Pennsylvania’s most complete long-distance trails, with 141 miles of its more than 165 planned miles open for use. When complete, the D&L will be the longest multiuse trail in Pennsylvania. Learn more about the D&L Trail and receive trail status updates, including closures after major storms, at the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.