Batona Trail Dirt Road Widened?

[RJG]

I have been hiking the Batona Trail for almost 25 years and I was disappointed to see that they knocked down about 25 yards of trees on both sides of the dirt road section about 3-4 miles north of the trailhead at Bass River. Anybody know what’s going on here?

 

[Boyd]

Sorry, I can't quite figure out the location you're talking about. But could it be related to the project Guy mentions here? There may be another thread about this somewhere else too.

https://forums.njpinebarrens.com/threads/stone-searching-fall-winter-2023-2024.14548/#post-176469

I have not been in that area for quite awhile, but the Batona trail follows Oswego Road starting here

https://boydsmaps.com/#17.00/39.675583/-74.483807/pines2020/0.00/0.00

 

[RJG]

That looks like it. Thank you. Any idea why they are widening that road so much?

 

[Boyd]

I think @Teegate can tell you more about that. Like I said, there may be another thread about it but I couldn't find it after a quick look.

 

[Teegate]

They are making a fire break all along Oswego and Allen Road. They have completed cutting that portion of it but have not removed all the wood on Oswego close to 539. They are now going to cut large sections of woods along Allen road, or at least that was the plan.

 

[Teegate]

NJDEP | Allen and Oswego Road Fire Mitigation and Habitat Restoration Project | New Jersey Forest Service

NJDEP - New Jersey Forest Service

www.nj.gov

 

[RJG]

Thank you.

 

[manumuskin]

No doubt there are dollar signs involved.

 

[Teegate]

I am happy they fixed both roads. Allen road is a dream right now. Oswego has some issues with sand and sticks and they certainly have damaged some property corners. However, I like what they have done.