Widen Sidewalks on Rte 29 Bridge: Report Proposes

A ten-month study on the Schuylkill River trail suggests doubling the sidewalk space on the Route 29 Bridge and narrowing traffic lanes.

The study was conducted to look at the best alternatives for the trail to cross French Creek between Phoenixville and Mont Clare.  According to a report on the GVF website "the feasibility study recommends improving the existing five foot sidewalk to a ten foot wide trail, separated from traffic by a concrete barrier. The improvement narrows the vehicle travel lanes, formalizes the trail crossing, and provides a safer, more enjoyable experience for trail users. Where the trail passes under a railroad overpass, new lighting and hand rails were recommended to improve the otherwise dark passage.

Several alternatives were considered during the planning process, including redirecting the trail west from the bridge along the railroad tracks and crossing under the stone arch bridge, or constructing a bridge over the French Creek and meeting with the French Creek Trail. Both alternatives were not determined feasible due to high construction cost and concerns over maintaining the trail within the Schuylkill River floodplain. The preferred alternative using PA Route 29 is estimated to cost $976,000 to design and construct. The full report is available online here.