Concord projects include trails

Posted by Rich Schwartzman on October 13, 2020

Concord Township residents get information on two projects.

Concord Township residents had the chance to check out two projects during an informal open house Tuesday evening. Both projects include trails.

Dedicated turn lanes into Garnet Valley High School are part of the Smithbridge Road project.

There was no formal presentation, but handouts were available.

The Smithbridge Road project is funded by Concord Township, Garnet Valley School District, PennDOT, and DVRPC. It calls for dedicated turn lanes into Garnet Valley High School, a trail from the school to Kirk/Temple Roads, and the traffic signal replacement at the Smithbridge/Temple Road/Kirk Road intersection with a roundabout. A new pedestrian crossing with a flasher is also planned for the Bob Mench/Allen Drive intersection.

Construction is anticipated to begin next spring and finish in the fall of 2021.

The Garnet Valley Greenway Plan would be part of the Delaware County trail plan.

The greenway project was part of the 2015 Greenways and Open Space Network Plan and is part of the county's trail plan and the DVRPC long-term trail plan. It would potentially connect to the Octoraro Trail, Concord Township Park, and Delaware County's Clayton Park. Funding for the Feasibility Study is provided by Concord Township, Delaware County, and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

As yet, there is no timetable for when the greenway would be built. Planning is still in the early stages, and the township is still interested in resident input.

An email from the township said more information would be put on the township website.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.