At its December meeting, the Hopewell Township Committee approved a major step toward completing the Lawrence Hopewell Trail (LHT), awarding the construction contract for the long-planned Mt. Rose Distillery West segment — the last piece needed to get started in order to create 18 continuous miles of trail.
The total length of the new construction is about .34 miles, but when complete, the LHT will then feature 18 continuous miles from Carter Road to Pretty Brook Road in Lawrence Township (near ETS). The remaining three segments are in different stages of completion.
Township Awards Contract for Mt. Rose Distillery West LHT Segment
The Committee unanimously approved the bid authorizing construction of the LHT’s Mt. Rose Distillery West segment. According to the bid documents, the project will create approximately 2,090 linear feet of new trail extending through Lots 18 and 21.011 in Block 20, near the intersection of Moore’s Mill–Mount Rose Road, Bailey Court, Wargo Road, and Pennington-Rocky Hill Road.
The plans call for:
- A paved multi-use trail section
- New pedestrian and bicycle crossing signage
- Grading and drainage improvements
- Connections that move the LHT closer to a seamless loop through Hopewell and Lawrence Townships
The official LHT system map confirms this area as a longstanding gap between the Mount Rose Preserve and Pennington-Rocky Hill Road. Once completed, the segment will advance the trail’s goal of providing safe, off-road access for walkers, runners, and cyclists traveling east–west across the Township.
Township officials noted that the project was bid “in a fair and open manner,” and construction will begin after the Township issues a notice to proceed.
Pipeline Safety During Public Comment
During public comment, several residents raised questions about the Twin Oaks petroleum pipeline, its aging infrastructure, and its proximity to the proposed The Venue adult community currently under Planning Board review. Commenters described long-standing community concerns about the pipeline’s depth, testing history, and the suitability of new construction above or near the line.
Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning addressed the issue directly, calling up a map of the pipeline’s route through the Township to provide clarity on its scope.
“I know that the pipeline, the Sunoco pipeline, has been raised many times in conjunction with The Venue development, but it’s a much bigger issue,” she said. “Regardless of any new development that’s happening, we need to make sure that this pipeline is safe for everyone.”
Peters-Manning emphasized that the pipeline crosses significant portions of Hopewell Township, passing under existing neighborhoods as well as areas proposed for future development. The Township, she said, must evaluate safety comprehensively, not only through the lens of a single application.
The Planning Board will continue public comment on The Venue application on Thursday, December 11, as the review of the project gets closer to a vote. At the last meeting the Planning Board tabled the rest of public comment to a special meeting on the 11th. The meeting will be on Zoom.
