by ALLAN DEAN

ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ —  Another link in the Bayshore Trail is nearing completion.  Phase one of the pedestrian/bike path should be finished in 2 or 3 weeks, according to Borough Administrator John Phair. 

The trail and it's extensions are part of a 22 mile system which stretches from Freehold through Matawan to Atlantic Highlands.  It follows the path of the former Central Jersey railroad lines along the bayshore. 

Plans call for the trail to connect to Sandy Hook and the Coastal Heritage Trail at Sea Bright. The Borough of Highlands should begin work on their segment of the Bayshore Trail sometime next year.  

The Henry Hudson/Bayshore Trail was conceived by the Monmouth County Planning Board in the early 1980’s within a planning document showing a route for the Bayshore Trail from the Borough of Keyport to Sandy Hook.  This document showed the Atlantic Highlands portion of the Bayshore Trail running over various streets and along the water base of the hill from the harbor to Highlands.

In the late 80’s, then-Councilman Mike Harmon spearheaded the effort to apply for a Department of Transportation Grant through the Ice Tea Program to provide funds for the construction for the Bayshore Trail.  The Borough Engineer David Hoder prepared the applications, and grants totaling $660,000 were received from the Department of Transportation. 

The current project was separated into two phases because of continued delays in getting final State and Federal approvals for the portion of the trail which abuts the shoreline. Before the federal government will release funds for the second phase of the project, Atlantic Highlands must obtain a CAFRA permit from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection.

Mr. Hoder said last night that the final regulatory hurdle, the CAFRA permit from the NJ DEP for phase two of the project, should be issued soon. "I have been told by personnel at DEP that the plans are complete and they are ready to issue it. It's a matter of it going from the reviewers desk to the supervisor to the administrator," said Mr. Hoder  "I am hoping we'll have it in the next two weeks."  He anticipates that phase two of the project will go out to bid by September.

The completed portion of the 1.7 mile Atlantic Highlands project includes a paved path from the intersection of Bay Avenue and Many Mind Creek, to the eastern end of the municipal harbor.  Picnic tables and trash cans are available along the route.

In May of 1999 the Borough awarded a design contract to Maser Consulting P.A. of Matawan to design the Bayshore Trail from Bay Avenue to Highlands.  This section of the trail will include a 6 ft. to 10 ft. wide trail with 2’ stone shoulders that would start at the intersection of Many Mind Creek and Bay Avenue and end at Shore Drive in Highlands. 

The full Atlantic Highlands route of the trail will begin at Avenue D near Route 36 where the paved trail constructed by the Monmouth County Park System ends at the roadway edge.  The trail, for now will run north on Avenue D to Bay Avenue and then east to Many Mind Creek where a new off road portion will start. When work to clean up coal tar contamination along many mind creek is completed, and easements have been obtained, the trail will be routed from Avenue D along the former railroad track, northward along the creek to W. Highland Avenue.  The trail will be connected to the harbor along a path to be constructed along West Avenue.

Phase one of the project begins at Bay Avenue and extends to the north along the edge of the fence in the Holly Tree parking lot.  A ninety-degree bend in the trail and it continue to the Atlantic Highlands harbor at First Avenue.  The trail crosses First Avenue and runs along the south edge of the Atlantic Highlands harbor, past the harbor bandstand and the playground area.  The trail then continues behind the tennis court and the extension of Fourth Avenue and is located at the base of the hill through the harbor boat storage area. An extension will be added leading to the new fishing pier. The first phase cost approximately $250,000.

Bayshore Trail in Atlantic Highlands

The second phase will take the path from the eastern end of the harbor along the previous location of the Central Jersey Railroad at the base of the hill below Bayside Drive and along the shoreline. The old railroad bed will form a strong base for the trail from that point to the future Monmouth County Park System Bayside Waterfront Park.  Within this County Park there are a couple of freshwater lakes and the trail will meander around these lakes to the Highland’s border at Shore Drive.

When the trail is completed it will be a safe and well-marked route continuing from Avenue D to the border of Atlantic Highlands at Highlands to be used by both pedestrians and people on bicycles.  It will form the northeast portion of the full Bayshore Trail, which will run uninterrupted from Aberdeen in the west part of the County to Highlands in the east.

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