Middlesex Greenway (New Jersey)
| Middlesex Greenway | |
|---|---|
| Length | 3.5 mi (5.6 km) |
| Location | Middlesex County, New Jersey |
| Trailheads | Metuchen Woodbridge |
| Use | Running, Hiking, Cycling |
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Season | Year round |
| Surface | Asphalt |
| Right of way | Lehigh Valley Railroad |
The Middlesex Greenway is a 3.5 miles (5.6 km) rail trail in New Jersey between Metuchen and Woodbridge.[1] It makes up a portion of the East Coast Greenway.
The trail begins at Crows Mill Road near William Street in the Fords/Keasbey section of Woodbridge and terminates in Metuchen at Middlesex Avenue, with 12 entry points.[1][2] Construction costs were $5 million.[3] Expansion to Perth Amboy and South Plainfield has also been proposed.[4]
History
The trail's roadbed originates from the Easton & Amboy Railroad created by the Lehigh Valley Railroad in 1875 to transport anthracite coal to a transfer dock in Perth Amboy for subsequent delivery to New York City. The line was consolidated into Conrail with other bankrupt railroads in 1976, and abandoned in 1991.[3]
Using open space funds,[5] Middlesex County purchased the roadbed from Conrail in December 2002 for approximately $50,000.[4] In 2004 Edison elected officials challenged NJDOT's plan to replace an original railroad trestle with a 140-foot long tunnel-like structure to carry the trail under US Route 1. The proposed culvert would have reduced the trail's capacity to a 14-foot wide by 10-foot high passageway, potentially preventing mounted police from traversing the highway.[6] NJDOT eventually agreed to construct a pedestrian bridge in lieu of the culvert.[5]
In 2005 Middlesex County acquired 2.68 acres of land adjacent to the trail to build a park along a portion of the abandoned roadbed at a cost of $1.25 million Middlesex County and $100,000 from Metuchen.[7]
Trail heads
- Woodbridge, Crows Mill Road, Woodbridge[2]
- Metuchen, Middlesex Avenue, Metuchen[1]
References
- ^ a b c "The Middlesex Greenway". Edison Greenway Group Website. Retrieved 2011-10-19.
- ^ a b "Middlesex Greenway | New Jersey Trails | TrailLink.com". www.traillink.com. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
- ^ a b "Freeholders To Use Stimulus Funds for Greenway". InJersey Website/News Record. September 1, 2009. Retrieved 2011-10-20.
- ^ a b Sergio Bichao (November 5, 2010). "Work begins on Middlesex Greenway connecting Woodbridge, Edison and Metuchen". InJersey Website. Retrieved 2011-10-19.
- ^ a b "Greenway project moves forward". Middlesex Sentinel Website. November 23, 2004. Retrieved 2011-10-20.
- ^ Elaine Van Delelde (June 9, 2004). "Bridge to preservation not easily traversed". Middlesex Sentinel Website. Retrieved 2011-10-20.
- ^ Jay Bodas (June 21, 2005). "3 acres set aside for Greenway". Middlesex Sentinel Website. Retrieved 2011-10-20.