Hanover Branch Rail Trail Extension

  • Hanover Branch Rail Trail Extension Project
  • Hanover Branch Rail Trail Extension Project
  • Hanover Branch Rail Trail Extension Project
  • Rail Trail Tracks

About the Extension Project

The Town of Hanover plans to construct a shared-use pathway that extends the Hanover Branch Rail Trail across West Hanover. This project will connect Hanover with the successful shared-use pathway that travels through neighboring towns of Abington and Rockland. Trail users can experience a quintessential New England journey through the natural beauty of woods and wetlands, historic village centers, and suburban post-industrial town settings while enjoying the natural and cultural wealth of Massachusetts and spending time outdoors. The Hanover Branch Rail Trail is an iconic multi-community project that provides direct pedestrian connections between our historic village centers, commerce centers, school campuses, and local recreation areas located along the rail line. This project also connects to the Hanover Open Space trail network, including The Hanover Greenway, The Colby Phillips Trails, and The Wildlands Trust Land Preserve. This project fills in a critical network gap in that the Town of Hanover is currently not connected to the Hanover Branch Rail Trail and this project will establish that connection. 

This trail will provide handicap accessibility to our natural environment. Hanover has many trails and walking paths but none allow handicapped residents to travel through the forested environment in our town. This project will benefit disabled and senior residents from local housing locations including Legion Senior Housing and The Cushing Residences by providing a smooth handicap-accessible multi-use pathway suitable for any level of mobility. Residents of all abilities and income levels will be able to enjoy this free recreational amenity in our community.

This extension project adds .81 miles of shared-use trail with a 10-foot wide paved pathway and 3-foot minimum graded shoulders within a 20 to 24-foot wide cleared area. This format will be a continuation of the Hanover Branch Rail Trail project in neighboring towns. Surface material will remain consistent with asphalt paving over a gravel base. The terrain is a flat railroad bed and access grades will be gradual to provide handicap accessibility. A parking area will be located in West Hanover Square for visitors to access the Rail Trail.