Great Western Bikeway

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Phase: Entering Final Design

Purpose and Need: The Great Western Bikeway (GWB) will be the first new link in a planned network of dedicated bicycle facilities throughout Mercer County. The primary route, Segment 1, will provide a continuous 10-mile bicycle route running east-west, predominantly along County Route (CR) 546 within Hopewell Township, Pennington Borough, and Lawrence Township and link between two branches of the D&R Canal State Park Trail: at Washington Crossing State Park to the west and Bakers Basin Road to the east. Two secondary routes will link Ewing Township to the south (Segment 2, CR 611) and Pennington Borough’s downtown district to the north (Segment 3, CR 640). Design and Construction costs are funded by federal funds administered through NJDOT Local Aid Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP).

Description: The Great Western Bikeway will ultimately establish 17.5 miles of bikeable shoulders, bike lanes, buffered bike lanes, two-way cycle tracks, and multi-use paths on Mercer County highways that are already relatively well-suited for bicycle travel. Project limits of the GWB run primarily on Mercer County Route 546, paralleling I-295 with a western termini at the Washington Crossing State Park and an eastern termini at the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail crossing at Bakers Basin Road.

The County is currently advancing all three segments. Segment 1 runs on CR 546 route from Hopewell Township to Lawrence Township. This 17-mile-long route will further expand the County’s promotion of complete streets and bike travel. It will provide a direct link between two branches of the D&R Canal State Park Trail: at Washington Crossing State Park to the west and Bakers Basin Road to the east. It will also connect to additional regional trails, preserved open spaces, parks and other destinations.

Segment 2 will connect to Ewing Township via Scotch Road (CR 611) which will terminate at the Ewing Town Centre. Segment 3 will act as a branch to downtown Pennington Borough via Main Street (CR 640) and East Delaware Ave (CR 624). This bikeway complements several other municipal and County bike/trail efforts underway and will serve as a spine for the northwestern part of the County.

Segments 1-3 consist of a combination of five facility types, ranging from “Sharrows” along low-speed and low-volume roads, to regular bicycle lanes and buffered bicycle lanes, and will include a limited number of off-road sidepath segment that will avoid major road widening. The County will also install four new high-visibility crossings with Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) to enhance pedestrian crossings.

Background: The County has successfully applied for and received a $2,365,900 competitive federal Regional Transportation Alternatives Program (RTAP) grant through the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) for design and construction of the Mercer County “Great Western Bikeway,” a bicycle route along County Route 546 — variously known as Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Pennington-Lawrenceville Road and Franklin Corner Road — and several of its approaches that seeks to maximize connectivity to the existing trail and bike network in the County. This project will provide bicycle access to many neighborhoods and recreational facilities in Ewing, Hopewell Township, Pennington and Lawrence. The County has seen the creation of numerous walking and biking trails in Mercer County, such as the immensely popular Lawrence-Hopewell Trail, and this bikeway will further expand people’s ability to forgo their cars and safely get around.

Anticipated Project Schedule: Final Design Phase to Begin in 2024. Additional public information centers will be scheduled. Construction Anticipated to Start Winter 2025/ Spring 2026.

Information: For further information, please contact:

Matthew Zochowski, PP/AICP, Principal Planner, Mercer County

mzochowski@mercercounty.org

Please click on the links below for more information:

Route 546 Bikeway Study

Great Western Bikeway (GWB) Preliminary Engineering Phase Project Summary