The southern portion of Old Mine Road in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is set to reopen on Friday after a summer-long reconstruction. The $11 million project, funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), has improved road conditions, safety, and access while preserving historical and natural resources. The road, which is crucial for park access and emergency services, connects to several recreational sites including Van Campens Glen and the Poxono Access to the Delaware River. Turtle Beach, also accessed from Old Mine Road, will remain closed for the season.
The project is the first of two segments of reconstruction of the road, the main north-south road through the park on the New Jersey side of the river. The second phase, which will focus on the northern section of the park, is planned to begin next spring.
Park Superintendent Doyle Sapp said, "For years, we have heard from the public and from our own employees about the poor conditions on Old Mine Road. With funding from GAOA, we were finally able to modernize a key piece of the park’s infrastructure and enhance safety and access for those who use the road." Sapp told NPS.gov.
Old Mine Road is one of the oldest commercial roads in the nation and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a Historic District. The road also traverses the Minisink National Historic Landmark. Protection of wetlands and streams, the Middle Delaware National Scenic and Recreational River and its floodplain, and the park’s cultural resources were primary considerations in the planning and execution of this work.