KING OF PRUSSIA — Trailgoers will soon begin using a new, nearly four-mile-long portion of the Chester Valley Trail after officials unveiled its opening this week.
The existing 14.5-mile Chester Valley Trail runs from Exton, Chester County, to King of Prussia, according to county officials. The 3.8-mile addition links the path to the Schuylkill River Trail in Norristown. Dozens of spectators were granted a brief reprieve from the rain on Monday morning as officials commemorated the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on King of Prussia Road.
The majority of the roughly $18 million enterprise was funded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program. Construction began in September 2021, according to Scott France, executive director of the Montgomery County Planning Commission.
“The significance of completing this nearly 4-mile gap in the Chester Valley Trail cannot be overstated,” Montgomery County Commissioners’ Chairman Ken Lawrence Jr. said in a statement. “It has transformed the ability to recreate and commute between Chester County and points throughout Montgomery County. Now that it is complete, trail users can ride and walk as far north as Green Lane Park and as far east as Philadelphia.”
Passing through Upper Merion Township, Bridgeport and Norristown, the extension features a 10 feet by 12 feet paved, multi-use pathway on the Circuit Trails network, according to county officials.
The venture included the installation of two pedestrian bridges at South Gulph Road and Henderson Road. Two bridges were also revamped for further cycling and pedestrian use.
“Trails have always been integral to the health and welfare of the county’s residents,” Montgomery County Commissioners’ Vice Chairwoman Jamila H. Winder said in a statement. “That is why we have invested significant resources into planning and building them. They contribute to the livability of our county and draw people here to live, work and visit.”
