February temps in the 60s … had to get outside. And part of that included checking out the progress on the extension of the Henry Hudson Trail into Freehold.
For you TL;DR types, this 0.4-mile addition could be open in two months, so the end of April.
Here’s what we found: lots of work! Construction workers were at the biggest bridge abutment, doing some backfilling that will become the ramp. The concrete work looked done. The abutments on the other side also seemed essentially done, so it’s just about time for that prefabricated slab to bridge Center Street.
The land for the trail on either side is cleared. So putting down drainage rocks, then asphalt on top shouldn’t take long either.
One of the construction workers told us he figured the work would be done in 6 weeks. Add on a bit of time for delays (rain and whatever), and end of April seems reasonable to me. Just in time for Celebrate Trails Day! Can’t wait!
The Henry Hudson Trail will then be continuous for nearly 7 miles from the center of Freehold (just a few blocks from Bruce Springsteen’s childhood neighborhood) to Marlboro and Big Brook Park. It’s a pleasant section, often behind homes, lots of walkers, some bumps thanks to tree roots — in short, a place for a social ride, not one to power through.
Monmouth County has plans to close the gap to what I call the middle section, and that could be on track for 2025/2026, barring slippages. And then there’s just one section remaining before it’s one long trail from Freehold to the ferries that depart from near Sandy Hook for New York City.
I wonder what the plan is for this gorgeus former railroad station near the trail terminus and entrance to a new park (still to be built).
Exploring by bicycle 