Contract Awarded for New Bike Path in Brick
Path could eventually run all the way to the ocean
Photos
The Brick Township council has awarded a contract that will expand an existing bike path to a picturesque section of town near Barnegat Bay.
The $168,623 contract, awarded to High Safety System Inc. of Hammonton, will be funded through the state's Bikeways program as part of a grant the township received in 2011.
The project will open up the township’s Airport Tract bike path to the Seawood Harbor neighborhood, as well as provide additional path openings along the trail.
According to bid specifications, the new trail will be more than a half-mile long and six feet wide. The contract also calls for wetlands restoration, landscaping, test pits, fencing, signage, traffic and erosion control associated with the trail extension.
It will run along Saint Lawrence Boulevard, Holly Avenue, Nokomis Avenue and Knoll Crest Avenue.
Business Administrator Scott Pezarras said the ultimate plan is to continue the expansion of the path.
"There are hopes that we can get a couple easements and run this all the way down to the beach area," he said. "That way they would only have to go on the road for a little bit, go over the Mantoloking Bridge and actually access the beach."
The township maintains two bike paths, one in the northern portion of the township and one in the southern portion. The northern path, known as the Sawmill Tract, runs for approximately two miles and connects Brick Memorial High School, Colorado Park, Havens Farm, Sawmill Pond and Sawmill Creek, and Burnt Tavern Road.
The southern portion – which will be expanded – is known as the Airport Tract. It runs for 1.7 miles and connects Cherry Quay Road, the Edmund Hibbard Athletic Complex, Sky Manor Boulevard, Drum Point Road and the Waterside Gardens apartment complex.
Joe Dee, spokesman for the New Jersey Department of Transportation, said the grant money is distributed to municipalities after a contract is awarded for an approved project.
Greg Thompson
6:55 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
It's nice to see that Airport tract expand. It's one of the few big pieces of woods around any more. And I really like the State Grant part : )
OceanCounty
7:34 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
"The township maintains two bike paths"
Ha Ha, I don't know about the southern trail, but the Sawmill Bike Path is not surely not maintained. It was nice when first built, but the lack of maintenance has caused it ti deterioate to the point where the gravel bed is washed out in many points, creating severe ruts and mud bowls. It's nice that the township builds these, but then no money is programmed for periodic maintenance. The HS track team uses the Sawmill Trail, and it is dangerous for running. I think some of our township officials need to take a walk and bike ride on it to experience the lack of maintenance.
JHill
7:46 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Shhh! Not too loud.
Our officials will end up spending $100,000 fixing it instead of sending out 4 DPW workers out for the day with a few tons of gravel.
Brick Jerz Mom
8:41 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
That great.... has anyone thought of Safe bike routes along Matolocking Rd, Drum point Rd. Cherry Quey, Brick Blvd... etc...where most kids ( & other people) ride their bikes?? These are the places people ride on a regular bases to get from one side of town to the other... There is NO where safe for them to ride & we hear of accidents ( many we don't hear of) on a daily bases... we need side walks & Bike routes in the areas that people need not just for enjoyment but many for necessity
ROBERT LINDSAY
9:04 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Well, "OceanCounty" is correct about the mud. I and my retired friends use the trail frequently on bikes. We do not go there after it rains. It's a bike trail, better to walk bikes around the mud than to build another bridge. We have seen High School athletes running there many times. I hope they already know to run somewhere else after it rains.
We have seen Public Works there keeping the trail clean and cutting brush and trees to keep the trail safe. Good job PW on little money. This is a great place to get some healthy exercise in the morning. You will see old guys like me, serious runners, dog walkers, high school athletes, and an occasional deer or fox! I will try to upload some pictures later today.
OceanCounty
10:52 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
PW does try to keep it clean, and for the most part it it.
However, it is not a great trail to ride anymore, especially the parts that are very sandy.
The trail needs a major overhaul to include a new gravel roadway, or preferably paved roadway.
We sent pictures to the Mayors office last year, but haven't gotten any response.
I know there are other pressing issues around town, especially the Sandy clean up; my only point was the town needs to program maintenance money for these trails, not just build and forget.
Christina Weaver
9:24 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
This is exciting news. I look forward to being able to go to the Brick Beach safely. It's quite a challenge now.
I whole-heartedly agree with Jerz Mom's comments about creating a safe way for bicyclists and walkers along Mantoloking and Drum Point Roads, Brick Blvd, Hooper Avenue and other roads where people travel regularly as a matter of
necessity rather than strictly for recreation.
Also, having a safe path would encourage more people to bike and walk places they need to go, rather than driving to their destinations.
Brickresident
10:32 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
The path off of drum point sucks. Nothing good about that path at all. Once down that path and i only think of how the others are. Brick should take notes on the path that was built that goes from Wall to Manasquan. Doesnt even have to be paved, maintained would be nice.
sodd
11:13 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Yea pw dumped large stones back there that will twist your ankle and blow out your bike tire