At $100,000, Vernon Bike Path ready to hit the road

Vernon-After two years in the works, phase one of the Vernon Bike Path is almost complete and will be open to the public next month. The bike path, which will be completed in four stages, will extend from the New York border to Hardyston totaling between eight to ten miles. Phase one of the project, which goes from two starting points, Prices Switch Road and Meadowburn Road and travels along Canal Road to Maple Grange Road cost $100,000. It was funded by a grant from the State Municipal Aid portion of the New Jersey Transportation Trust Fund and Local Bikeway Fund. "We are finally seeing the fruit of our labor," said Vernon Township Manager Don Teolis. Phase two bids will be sent out within the next month or two, he added. By all accounts the construction of the bike path has gone very smoothly. "This has been a very positive program, with only minor delays when the path came into contact with high traffic areas as there are very specific requirements for these busier areas or town," said Assistant Township Manager Gary Gardner. The new bike path will eventually allow cyclists to ride from the border of Vernon and New York all the way to Hardyston. "From what we can gather, Warwick and Hardyston are also working on their own bike paths which will link up with the Vernon one, allowing cyclist into areas that they never had access to before," added Gardner. "This should made bike groups and the general public very happy.