Norwottuck Rail Trail
Encyclopedia
The Norwottuck Rail Trail is a 9.5 miles (15.3 km) combination bicycle/pedestrian paved right-of-way running from Northampton, Massachusetts
, through Hadley
and Amherst
, to Belchertown, Massachusetts
. It opened in 1992. No motor vehicles or horses are allowed.
Sights to see include the Norwottuck Rail Trail Bridge
over the Connecticut River
. The beaver
pond near the eastern end of the trail is host to a number of different kinds of birds including great blue heron
and various woodpeckers, as well as ducks, turtles, and various other critters.
) is in the planning stages, as is a tunnel underneath the active rail line to join with the Northampton Bikeway. There are various other possible connections being considered, such as a connection to the Canalside Rail Trail
.
There is a movement
in progress to create a 104 miles (167.4 km) bicycle path from Boston westward, which would incorporate the Norwottuck Rail Trail as part of its length.
as part of its aggregate
. This material has been slowly emerging over time, causing flat tires and other issues. The pavement is due for replacement within the next year.
Another item under consideration is widening the trail from its current 8 feet (2.4 m) to 10 feet (3 m) to better accommodate busy traffic, especially on weekends. Widening would lessen the impact of traffic as on any other kind of road.
In-term activity was scheduled for May 2008 to remove buckling due to root growth under the trail, with further work being considered for later in 2009. Yellow bills were posted at various points along the trail containing details about the scheduled work. At the time, trail users were advised to look for these.
Northampton, Massachusetts
The city of Northampton is the county seat of Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of Northampton's central neighborhoods, was 28,549...
, through Hadley
Hadley, Massachusetts
Hadley is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. The population was 4,793 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The area around Hampshire Mall and Mountain Farms Mall along Route 9 is a major shopping destination for the surrounding...
and Amherst
Amherst, Massachusetts
Amherst is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States in the Connecticut River valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,819, making it the largest community in Hampshire County . The town is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts...
, to Belchertown, Massachusetts
Belchertown, Massachusetts
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,968 people, 4,886 households, and 3,517 families residing in the town. The population density was 245.9 people per square mile . There were 5,050 housing units at an average density of 95.8 per square mile...
. It opened in 1992. No motor vehicles or horses are allowed.
Use
This trail is used by bicyclers, rollerbladers, and hikers. Both recreational and commuter traffic occurs here.Sights to see include the Norwottuck Rail Trail Bridge
Norwottuck Rail Trail Bridge
The Norwottuck Rail Trail Bridge is a former crossing of Boston and Maine Railroad over the Connecticut River in western Massachusetts, connecting the towns of Northampton and Hadley, currently used for bicycle and foot traffic.-History and construction of the bridge:The Norwottuck Rail Trail...
over the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
. The beaver
Beaver
The beaver is a primarily nocturnal, large, semi-aquatic rodent. Castor includes two extant species, North American Beaver and Eurasian Beaver . Beavers are known for building dams, canals, and lodges . They are the second-largest rodent in the world...
pond near the eastern end of the trail is host to a number of different kinds of birds including great blue heron
Great Blue Heron
The Great Blue Heron is a large wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, common near the shores of open water and in wetlands over most of North and Central America as well as the West Indies and the Galápagos Islands. It is a rare vagrant to Europe, with records from Spain, the Azores and England...
and various woodpeckers, as well as ducks, turtles, and various other critters.
Extension
The trail has been extended to the east approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) and currently ends at Warren Wright Road south of North Road and north of Wilson Road. A westward extension from Damon Road to Woodmont Road in Northampton opened in 2007. The trail ends close to the Northampton Bikeway, which runs from the other side of King Street to Florence and Look Park. Construction of a rail with trail project southward to downtown Northampton and Easthampton (to connect with the Manhan Rail TrailManhan Rail Trail
The Manhan Rail Trail is a rails-to-trails paved recreational trail and non-motorized commuter route located in the lower Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts in the town of Easthampton. The long trail, completed in 2003, is part of a larger rails-to-trails project that would extend from New...
) is in the planning stages, as is a tunnel underneath the active rail line to join with the Northampton Bikeway. There are various other possible connections being considered, such as a connection to the Canalside Rail Trail
Canalside Rail Trail Bridge
The Canalside Rail Trail Bridge is a former New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad rail bridge across the Connecticut River between...
.
There is a movement
Political movement
A political movement is a social movement in the area of politics. A political movement may be organized around a single issue or set of issues, or around a set of shared concerns of a social group...
in progress to create a 104 miles (167.4 km) bicycle path from Boston westward, which would incorporate the Norwottuck Rail Trail as part of its length.
Reconstruction
The trail has degraded over time. One aspect of the problem is that the original pavement was an attempt at being "green", and incorporated crushed used glass bottlesGlass Bottles
A glass bottle is a bottle created from glass. Glass bottles can vary in size considerably, but are most commonly found in sizes ranging between about 10ml and 5 liters....
as part of its aggregate
Construction Aggregate
Construction aggregate, or simply "aggregate", is a broad category of coarse particulate material used in construction, including sand, gravel, crushed stone, slag, recycled concrete and geosynthetic aggregates. Aggregates are the most mined material in the world...
. This material has been slowly emerging over time, causing flat tires and other issues. The pavement is due for replacement within the next year.
Another item under consideration is widening the trail from its current 8 feet (2.4 m) to 10 feet (3 m) to better accommodate busy traffic, especially on weekends. Widening would lessen the impact of traffic as on any other kind of road.
In-term activity was scheduled for May 2008 to remove buckling due to root growth under the trail, with further work being considered for later in 2009. Yellow bills were posted at various points along the trail containing details about the scheduled work. At the time, trail users were advised to look for these.