Camden County Receives $1M For LINK Path Bridge

CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ — Camden County has received $1 million for the construction of a pedestrian/bike bridge over Cooper River in Camden City, county officials announced on Wednesday. The bridge will connect two major portions of the planned Camden County LINK Trail.

The new route provides a safe alternative for bicyclists and pedestrians who would otherwise travel along Admiral Wilson Boulevard, officials said. It also provides easy access to the River Birch Connector Trail.

“This is a critical piece of infrastructure which will connect two portions of the Camden County LINK Trail, a 33-mile multi-use trail that we expect to bring economic and public health benefits to towns throughout the county,” Camden County Commissioner Jeff Nash said. “Currently, the only way to get across Cooper River in this location is to walk or bike down a narrow sidewalk with cars and trucks traveling just a few feet away. The bridge will allow bicyclists and pedestrians to get off of this busy roadway and safely traverse in and out of Camden City.”

The funding is part of the Transportation Alternative Set-Asides program, a competitive grant program which provides funds to build pedestrian and bicycle facilities, improve access to transportation, create safe routes to schools, preserve historic transportation structures, provide environmental mitigation, and create trail projects that serve a transportation purpose while promoting safety and mobility.

The program is administered by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, and the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization. Funding for the bridge comes from NJDOT and DVRPC.

The project is expected to begin in the spring. The Camden County LINK Trail, traveling through 17 Camden County municipalities from the Ben Franklin Bridge to Winslow Township, was formerly known as the Cross Camden County Trail.

At its completion, the 12-foot wide multi-use path will drive tourism and economic activity along the route, while also generating incredible benefits to both public and environmental health in the region, officials said.

More information related to the Trail, including drone videos for segments covering the entire length of The LINK Trail, is available at camdencounty.com/trails. For more information regarding the grant and TA Set-Asides program, click here.