POTTSTOWN, PA — A new Schuylkill River Trail connector near Pottstown has eliminated a hazardous break in the regional trail network, creating an uninterrupted roughly 70-mile route between Philadelphia and Reading and improving northbound access for cyclists traveling from Chester County.
The approximately 0.95-mile paved segment opened Aug. 19 after roughly a decade of planning. The $1.28 million project connects the trail near Industrial Highway in Pottstown and Lower Pottsgrove Township with the pedestrian and bicycle crossing at the U.S. Route 422 bridge over the Schuylkill River.
The connection closes one of the remaining major gaps in the Schuylkill River Trail and links Montgomery County’s trail network with the Chester County extension across the river in North Coventry Township. Riders can now continue toward Reading through Berks County without leaving the trail for the previous busy-road alternative.
For Chester County, the project extends the practical reach of a trail corridor already connecting communities including Phoenixville and Spring City with destinations to the north and southeast. Cyclists traveling north can cross beneath Route 422 into the Pottstown area rather than navigating the former on-road gap.
The completed connection also strengthens access to a larger regional trail system. The Schuylkill River Trail connects with the Perkiomen Trail and Cross County Trail, expanding the network available to recreational riders and commuters.
The new section is a paved, off-road multiuse path designed for cyclists, pedestrians and runners. The project includes safety crossings, directional signs and pavement markings along the Industrial Highway corridor.
The roughly $1.28 million investment was developed through cooperation involving Montgomery County Parks & Trails, the Borough of Pottstown and the Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area.
The connector’s completion also carries potential economic implications for communities along the route by making longer-distance recreational trips easier. Phoenixville, Spring City and other northern Chester County communities now sit along a continuous corridor reaching from Philadelphia to Reading, potentially increasing opportunities for trail-related tourism and spending.
The Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area provides trail maps and information about the Pottstown-to-Reading section at Schuylkill River Greenways Trail Map and Projects Portal. Additional local project information is available through the Borough of Pottstown project page.
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