June 2018 ribbon cutting for the Mansion House Bridge.
The Jim Thorpe Mansion House Bridge — a top-10 state-identified identified trail gap — will finally open on Monday, August 12.
Last year, the D&L Trail Alliance and Carbon County PA finished the long-awaited Mansion House Bridge (pictured above). However, trail work still had to be done between the bridge to improve the trail south of the bridge, which continued through this summer. On August 12th the bridge and the new trail connection will finally be open to the public.
The bridge closes the largest gap in the 160 mile D&L Trail. Connecting the popular Lehigh Gorge Trail with the Lehigh Canal Towpath with 48 miles of contiguous improved trail between Northampton and White Haven.
The Lehigh Gorge Trail is one of the most popular bike trail destinations in the Northeast.
The Heritage Corridor has been diligently closing gaps in the 160 mile pathway, and in June two major gaps on the Circuit in Bucks County were completed and now its possible to bike 99 percent off road from Bristol to Allentown. The only gap between Bristol and the Lehigh Gorge is a 5 mile segment between Allentown and Northampton which can be accessed via moderate to high stress roads or by taking your bike on LANTA buses.
North of White Haven construction is progressing on a gap on the Black Diamond Trail. When that is complete, another 11 miles will be tacked on. And in the future it will extend to the scenic Seven Tubs Natural Area on the outskirts of Wilkes-Barre.