Marines

A large portion of Holcomb bike path closing until 2014, Alternate trail begins at Old Sawmill Rd. intersection

5 Nov 2012 | Lance Cpl. Jackeline M. Perez Rivera Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune

A large portion of the bike path along Holcomb Blvd. aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is slated to close from Nov. 14 until the summer of 2014 due to construction in the area.

However, bicyclists will be able to take an alternate path using the Greenway Trail beginning at the intersection of Old Sawmill Road and ending near Marston Pavilion. There will be signs placed along the road to mark the detour.

“The bike lane is required to be closed to facilitate construction of roadways for the relocation of traffic off of Parachute Tower Road, we will then begin construction of the new overpass that will go over Holcomb Boulevard,” said Navy Lt. Lonny Sleeper a project engineer with the Officer in Charge of Construction’s office for Marine Corps Installations East. “This overpass at the end state of construction will allow the new base entry road to tie into the current changes that have occurred at the Piney Green intersection.”

The bike closure is required for the safety of bicyclist as well as the construction workers on site, said Sleeper. Signs and barricades will be placed to notify the base community the area is closed. Even when there isn’t active construction going on the site is still dangerous and pedestrian traffic is required to stay away.

“Please take all trail and road closure signs seriously for everyone’s safety,” said Sleeper.

The project is for the greater good. The construction is a part of a series of efforts aiming to reduce base traffic.

“This closure is a small portion of the new base entry road project that is set to construct a new main entrance located west of the Tarawa Terrace II entrance and just past the pedestrian bridge over NC24,” said Sleeper. “A new road that ends west of the Piney Green Sneads Ferry intersection will be built. The new base entry road is designed to help reduce the congestion currently experienced entering and leaving the base during peak hours.”


However, bicyclists have something to look forward to. A new bike path will be built at the conclusion of the other construction and will connect to the trail being constructed along Wallace Creek.