We are not done with new trails: Check out Phase II of the Lewes-Georgetown Trail
Phase II of the Lewes-Georgetown Trail passing under Route 1. (Photo credit: Ron MacArthur, Cape Gazette)
JUNE 3: OFFICIAL OPENING/RIBBON CUTTING
In September, Delaware opened up the most ambitious and expensive bicycle project in our history: a safe, direct, flat and paved bikeway route between the Wilmington Riverfront and downtown New Castle (including the state’s longest bicycle bridge by far, a football field-long bike bridge spanning the Christina River). But that does NOT mean we are now all done with awesome new trails in Delaware. Check out Phase II of the Lewes-Georgetown Trail!
When then-Governor Markell opened Phase I of the trail in 2016, from Gills Neck Road to Savannah Road in Lewes, it was great. But, as we said then, the greater significance of Phase I was the way it set up Phase II of the trail: Phase II now connects the increasingly populous communities west of Route 1 in Sussex County to Lewes and (via the Junction & Breakwater Trail) to Rehoboth. Crucially, Phase II of the Lewes-Georgetown Trail also provides the Lewes area something it has never had before: a much-needed and fervently desired safe, “low-stress“, grade-separated crossing for people cycling and walking of the extremely busy and dangerous Route 1, going under the Nassau Bridge:
Overhead view of the Lewes-Georgetown Trail as in passes under Route 1. (Photo credit: Ron MacArthur, Cape Gazette)
It’s not even “officially” open but people have, somehow, already discovered Phase II. It’s already full of people – in the middle of January! – happily cycling and walking on this beautiful new trail.
Phase II is not the end of this trail. When complete, the Lewes-Georgetown Trail will be a 10-foot wide paved trail that extends a total of 17 miles all the way from the City of Lewes to Georgetown, creating the single longest trail in Delaware. It’s an ambitious project which would not be possible without the critical support of elected officials. Their leadership has been essential:
- The Delaware General Assembly passed Walkable Bikeable Delaware, which directed DelDOT to “create multi-use paths for pedestrian and bicycle user travel within and between cities and towns in Delaware on independent right-of-way outside of the right-of-way of existing roadways.”
- Sussex County Council identified the Lewes-Georgetown Trail as a County transportation priority.
- In October of 2011, former Governor Markell included the project in his ambitious First State Trails and Pathways Initiative.
Phase I of the Lewes-Georgetown Trail in Lewes
RELATED:
• Governor Markell Opens Phase I of Lewes-Georgetown Trail
• Lewes-Georgetown Trail Launches!
• Go where there is no path (crossing Route 1) and leave a trail (under the Nassau Bridge!)
• Lewes cyclist on mission for new trail (Cape Gazette)
• DelDOT Public Workshop on Phase I of Georgetown to Lewes Trail
• Why the Georgetown to Lewes Trail Attracted Us to Invest in Delaware
• Sussex County Council Includes Lewes-to-Georgetown In Its List of Transportation Priorities
• Public Prefers Rail-With-Trail for Lewes-Georgetown Route at DelDOT Workshop
• Lewes to Georgetown Route is Overdue
21 Responses
I hope that Traillink.com will be updated to reflect the Phase 2 addition.
We just walked Phase 2 of the trail today and it is beautiful.
Will Bike Delaware consider extending the Lewes- Georgetown trail into the town of Milton
I would love to know the same! Route 16 is dangerous for bikers.
I wonder if the trail will extend over the canal where the old pivot bridge was located so bikes can stay off the dangerous Savannah Road at the drawbridge, especially during busy summer traffic season. The trail seems to just dead end from American Legion Rd trailhead a few hundred feet from the canal. Seems odd.
I have asked DelDOT officials about a bike bridge possibility as well as Senator Lopez and Lewes Mayor Becker as recently as last Friday. Everyone has said there are NO plans for a bike bridge over the canal where the train swing bridge currently is located. The new state park trail does seem to end at a strange place just short of the canal but I was told that they plan to put a bird watch site with signage in this area. Although I would also like a bike bridge in this area but realize that to do so it would be very expensive probably in the excess of a couple of million dollars because it would have to be as high as the Freeman Bridge so boat traffic could pass underneath it.
Ray Quillen
I saw on a map what looks like a section following the rail bed from Henlopen State Park to where the swing bridge crosses the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal. Is there a plan to have a bridge over the canal or even use the old swing bridge?
Sorry, just read the last comment
Sure, just crank that old swing bridge closed, ride over, and don’t worry about the boats.
What’s the timeline for the next section of trail? Will it go all the way to Georgetown, or some other intermediate spot?
So at Sweet Briar Rd Ddot is installing an island so a bike can seek safety if they can’t cross the road….does this say islands will be installed at all trail at grade crossings? How do they think we get to the trail if we can’t be trusted to cross the road?
Anyone have any ideas where can you park and unload your bike if you don’t want to risk an untimely demise by riding to the bike trail on the dangerous local roads?
Currently, the western end of the trail ends just shy of Cool Spring. I’ve been parking at the Cool Spring Presbyterian Church. I’ve seen others park there as well. You’ll have a ride your bike a few hundred yards on Log Cabin Hill Road to reach the current end of the trail from the church, but it’s well worth not having to ride extensively on any roadway to get to the trail.
Thanks Mathew. If you build it they will come… unfortunately they may be killed on the way there!
why do you think biking is all that dangerous that a short ride will result in your demise
Well John, the simple answer – distracted drivers. I rode from my home in Milton to the Georgetown Lewes bike trail once – and from my one trip down and back along Cave Neck Road I very quickly realized that if I continued riding these roads someone in a vehicle not paying attention was going to either severely injure me or kill me. I strongly advise against biking on any area roads with a 50 mph speed limit. If anyone needs further justification, I suggest the next time you are on the Georgetown Lewes bike trail, to stop at the kiosk behind the Lewes Senior Center and reflect on the message that the esteemed Thomas Henry Draper (RIP) will be very clearly sending you.
A statewide network of bike trails going from northern Delaware to southern Delaware as well as east and west was a project that has been in the planning since the DuPont administration. So, this is not something too recent.
We are not done with new trails: Check out Phase II of the Lewes-Georgetown Trail –
Stunning quest there. What happened after?
Good luck!- calator.tel
Will there be any parking area by the trail?
Congratulations! A real inspiration to surrounding areas 🙂
Hi there, this weekend is pleasant designed for me, as
this moment i am reading this enormous educational paragraph here at my house.
Neighborhoods are springing up all over West of Route 1, is there any plans to build feeder paths to the Lewis Georgetown Trail or at least widen the roads to the intersections to Route one. If not Delaware is going to have a spike in deaths not reduce them. These roads are already busy and have no sides for bikes.