What's the 'Great Western Bikeway' ?
The Great Western Bikeway is a bicycle route along County Route 546 — variously known as Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Pennington-Lawrenceville Road and Franklin Corner Road — and several of its approaches that seeks to maximize connectivity to the existing trail and bike networks in the County. (Click here to see enlarged version of map.)
This exciting project will provide bicycle access to many neighborhoods and recreational facilities in Ewing, Hopewell Township, Pennington and Lawrence. "As demand increases for ways to get around that don't involve driving, we have seen the creation of numerous walking and biking trails around the county, such as the immensely popular Lawrence-Hopewell Trail," said Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes. "The Great Western will further expand people’s ability to forgo their cars and safely get around."
I want to learn more!
An online public information center (PIC) will be on March 9, 2022 at 6 p.m.
A recording of the meeting will be made available.
How to attend the virtual/online Meeting on Wednesday, March 9, 2022 at 6 p.m.
Participate on a Computer / Smart Phone:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/
5291761868503545869
- OR -
Participate by Telephone:
Call In Number: +1 (415) 655-0052
Access Code: 190-023-775
To submit questions and comments after the meeting, please contact Matthew Zochowski by March 23, 2022 at mzochowski@mercercounty.org.
What's the project status?
The County is currently advancing Segment 1, which runs on CR 546 from Hopewell Township to Lawrence Township. This 10-mile-long east-west route will further expand the County’s promotion of complete streets and bike travel. It will provide a direct link between two branches of the D&R Canal State Park Trail: at Washington Crossing State Park to the west and Bakers Basin Road to the east. It will also connect to additional regional trails, preserved open spaces, parks and other destinations.
Future segment routes include a branch to Ewing Township via Scotch Road (CR 611), which will terminate at the Ewing Town Center, as well as a branch to downtown Pennington Borough via Main Street (CR 640) and East Delaware Avenue (CR 624). This bikeway complements several other municipal and County bike/trail efforts underway and will serve as a spine for the northwestern part of the County. The Great Western Bikeway will ultimately establish 17.5 miles of bikeable shoulders, bike lanes, buffered bike lanes, two-way cycle tracks, and multi-use paths on Mercer County highways that are already relatively well-suited for bicycle travel. Read more about the project background and proposals by clicking the box at the end of the story.
What's the cost?
The County has successfully applied for and received a $2,365,900 competitive federal Regional Transportation Alternatives Program (RTAP) grant through the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) for design and construction.
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