Lansdale's Liberty Bell Trail Named Region 'Project Of The Year'

LANSDALE, PA — A trail in Lansdale has received recognition for excellence by the American Society of Highway Engineers, which cited the project's complexity as well as its significance to the area economy and long term master plan.

The Liberty Bell Trail, the latest phase of which was completed in Oct. 2019, has been named the Delaware Valley 2019 Project of the Year in the under $10 million category, Pennoni, an engineering firm which assisted on the project, announced.

"This project met and exceeded the Borough's goals and objectives. From start to finish, this project was a true collaboration between all parties and I applaud the entire project team for their efforts in not only making this project a success but also for their continued commitment to the future of Lansdale," John Ernst, Lansdale's borough manager, said in a statement.

The 10-foot-wide multi-use trail which runs through the heart of downtown Lansdale was no easy task to perfect. Lansdale and Montgomery County worked closed with SEPTA, Pennoni, PennDOT, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, and the Pennsylvania Northeastern Railroad on various aspects of the project.

Some of the features noted by the award's organizers include the prefabricated bridge which crosses a large drainage channel next to the SEPTA tracks, as well as carefully planned at-grade rail crossings.

The trail not only increases walkability and recreation access while serving as a boon to the borough's economy, but it's also a "significant piece" of a larger puzzle in regional trails.

The project has been planned and been in varying stages of development for years. Regional developers foresee that the trail could ultimately run the length of the Liberty Bell Trolley Line between Norristown and Quakertown, which would link Lansdale to both the Schuylkill River Trail and Upper Bucks Rail Trail. Feasibility studies for further extensions have been completed or are underway.