Two trails in the Borough of Northampton, the Nor-Bath Trail and the Delaware & Lehigh Heritage Trail (D&L), will soon undergo a major upgrade - the kind that has been talked about for decades.

Scott Everett, representing D&L’s nonprofit entity, addressed borough council during a July 7 meeting. He said the Nor-Bath Trail, which ends in the area of Horwith Athletic Fields, will be extended to the D&L, where the Hokendauqua Creek spills into the Lehigh River at a path at Canal Park.

Mentioning easement agreements are in the process with Horwith interests and Northampton Borough Municipal Authority, Everettt said he foresees no issues regarding obtaining the easements.

Everett said a pedestrian bridge will be built across Dry Run Creek.

The Nor-Bath Trail extension will cross Main Street at 10th Street, then go downhill to the existing trail, which runs north toward the Cementon Bridge and south past the pedestrian bridge.

Borough Manager Leroy Brobst said Northampton County Open Space grants are involved in the funding of this project.

Everett said while Northampton was involved in the design phase, North Catasauqua has involvement with the construction phase of the D&L, which extends into North Catasauqua and beyond.

The proposed trail extension has overcome many challenges, such as steep terrain and uneven, hard-to-access areas.