2021 could be the last year that drivers and D&L Trail users have to share Riverview Drive in East Penn Township.

The township supervisors are moving forward with a 1-mile piece of trail to connect two existing sections of the D&L.

“We’ve had bikers who have been hit down there, and we are trying to get them off the road. We are trying to build a bike trail next to it,” said William Schwab, chairman of the East Penn Township supervisors.

The supervisors voted Monday night to award a contract to Lehigh Asphalt Paving and Construction to build part of the new trail. Lehigh Asphalt submitted the lowest of four bids for the project at $142,265.

When the project is completed, the D&L will travel along the west side of Riverview Drive from Route 895 south, crossing the Lizard Creek. Plans call for the path to use the existing bridge over the creek.

The trail will cross Riverview Drive just south of J&R Slaw Inc., and meet up with the existing section in the township’s Riverview Park, where the township has built amenities for D&L trail users.

Lehigh Asphalt will construct the section starting from the bridge to Riverview Park.

Contractors also bid on the section from the bridge north to Route 895, but the supervisors decided to have the township road crew complete the work instead.

The township has $174,000 in grants from DCNR for the project, and will contribute another $20,000-$30,000 in materials.

Schwab said he is hopeful the projects will be completed this year.

The new section of trail follows the former Lehigh Valley Railroad. It’s the last section of the trail located on the road in East Penn Township. Riders still utilize dead-end Bowmans Road for about 200 feet once they cross Route 895.

The D&L Trail is 141 miles long, going from Bristol, in the Greater Philadelphia region, through the Lehigh Valley to Slatington, Palmerton, Weissport and Jim Thorpe before continuing to Mountain Top.

In other township business:

• The supervisors announced the township is set to receive $279,000 in COVID relief funds.

• The township’s electronic recycling day has been set for Oct. 16 from 9 a.m.-noon at the East Penn Township Community Center, 403 Blue Mountain Road, Ashfield. It is open to township residents only.