Old Mine Road construction project to begin April 6

BUSHKILL, Pa.- The Old Mine Road, a scenic and historic 375-year-old route on the New Jersey side of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, will undergo significant repairs starting on April 6. A 3.5-mile section of road at the northern end of the park, between Route 560 and Route 206, will be under construction. A portion of the route between Jager Road and Route 206 will be closed until the end of summer to enable the work.

The repairs are part of a $16.9 million project in the park funded by the Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund signed into law by President Donald J. Trump in 2020. The project includes milling the existing pavement, conducting full depth patch repair and spot base repair, replacing culverts, reconstructing shoulders, and striping lines. The repair of the road surface, subsurface, and drainage systems will extend the life of the road, eliminate the ongoing cost of frequent patching of potholes and other temporary corrective measures, and improve safety for motorists and bicyclists.

The Great American Outdoors Act remains one of the most significant conservation achievements of President Trump's administration. The law provides significant funding to address long-deferred maintenance needs across the National Park System, ensuring safe, resilient and accessible public lands for future generations.

"I am thrilled for this major investment to improve safety and access for park visitors, protect park resources, and maintain the historic integrity of the road," said Park Superintendent Eamon Leighty. "For many years, in my roles as deputy superintendent, acting superintendent, and now superintendent of the park, I've listened to the concerns of visitors and community members regarding the deteriorating condition of the road and am grateful for the funding to make these long-needed repairs."

Later this year, another Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund project will rehabilitate a six-mile section of Route 209 at the park's northern end in Pennsylvania, between Mile Marker 14 and Mile Marker 20, including landslide repairs at Mile Markers 14 and 17. Further details will be shared once construction schedules are finalized.

For more information on Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area: call (570) 426-2452; visit our website at www.nps.gov/dewa; or follow us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/DelWaterGapNPS and on Instagram at www.Instagram.com/DelWaterGapNPS.