CRANBERRY TWP — A half-mile walking trail linking Graham Park to Powell Road will not be constructed until next year because of permitting issues, according to township officials.

Jason Kratsas, director of engineering for the township, said the trail will run along Brush Creek and eventually will cross over a very small, unnamed tributary of the creek.

Because of that small portion of the trail, the township must secure environmental permits from the state and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission. The commission in involved because part of the trail parallels the Turnpike.

“I wouldn’t say it’s a hassle as much as it is something that we’ve had to figure a way to work through,” Kratsas said. “It’s been a tough challenge.”

Kratsas added the trail, which will be 10 feet wide and paved, will cost about $180,000 to build. The township will pay half of that while the rest will be funded by a matching grant of $90,000 from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

“We got the grant in place last year and tentatively wanted to start building this year,” Kratsas said. “But what’s holding us up is crossing the little stream. The trail has to snake around some wetlands, too, to make it work. Part of the issue concerns flood plains and wetlands, so the permitting process is pretty extensive.”

The proposed trail will end at the Brush Creek water treatment plant but will also link up with other trails in the township that are part of an emerging pedestrian access network.

“We’re really trying to build a very valuable link within the bigger network,” he said. “This enables us in the future to continue working as our pedestrian network grows.”

Many neighborhood developments in the township already have extensive sidewalk systems that link to trails or other neighborhoods, Kratsas said.

The township hopes to have all permits in place by early next year, with construction starting around June. Once completed, the trail will link up with newly constructed sidewalks to the Woodbine Estates and Greenfields Estates neighborhoods.