Southern portion of Old Mine Road set to open Sept. 20

The southern portion of Old Mine Road, between Worthington State Forest and Millbrook Village, on the New Jersey side of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area qill re-open on September 20 after being upgraded with funding from the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). Van Campens Glen and Poxono Access will also re-open. Turtle Beach will remain closed for the season. According to the National Park Service, this is the first of two segments slated to be overhauled as part of this phased project. The second phase at the northern end of the park will begin in spring 2025.

“For years, we have heard from the public and from our own employees about the poor conditions on Old Mine Road,” said Doyle Sapp, superintendent. “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 while also protecting sensitive natural and cultural resources along its route and maintaining its historic integrity. We look forward to doing the same thing at the northern end of the park next year.”

The southern section of Old Mine Road provides access from Interstate 80 to the NJ side of the park. NPS noted that it is also an important route for emergency services providers.

The first phase of work included subgrade repairs and resurfacing of the roadway and drainage repairs. NPS said the road pavement treatment given to Old Mine Road will extend its life while also reducing emergency maintenance requirements and improving overall safety.

The next phase will continue the road pavement treatment for the park’s northern end for portions in Sandyston and Montague townships in NJ. Work on this segment will begin in the spring of 2025 and is expected to be completed by November 2025. Further details will be shared once construction schedules are finalized.

According to NPS, 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; historic buildings along the route contribute to its eligibility. The road also traverses the Minisink National Historic Landmark.

Much of the park’ maintenance backlog is related to its 76 miles of paved roads, parking lots, roadways, and bridges. In 2023, the park hosted 4.2 million visits, making it the seventeenth most-visited national park in the country.

“Because so many people, including local residents, use these roads, this funding is not only an investment in the park, but also an investment in nearby communities,” said Sapp. “Regardless of whether visitors are passing through the park for 30 minutes on their way to work or spending a day or a week recreating in the park, the roads receive a lot of wear and tear and are our most costly infrastructure to build, maintain, and repair.”

The phased project is being financed through GAOA’s National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund. When completed, NPS said the project is expected to eliminate approximately $9.7 million of the maintenance backlog associated with these facilities. The cost of the entire project is approximately $11 million.

For more information on Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, call 570-426-2452 or visit nps.gov/dewa.