Friends of the Delaware Canal

Recovery Updates

his section is provided to track recovery work on the Canal from the major flood damage inflicted by the storms of 2004, 2005 and 2006. Check back in this area often to learn of any updates, provided by representatives of FODC and other related entities.

A Surge of Progress: April, 2008

We have momentum! Canal repair and improvement projects are
            Underway or
            Out for bid or
            Nearly ready to be put out for bid.

Project Area: Easton to Groundhog Lock (aka Theodore Roosevelt Recreation Area) in Raubsville
Action: Flood damage to the canal prism and towpath is now being repaired by Popple Construction.

Project Area: Palmer Fish Ladder on the Lehigh River; Lock 24, Weigh Lock, and Fish Ladder in Easton
Action: Reconstruction and adjacent dredging is currently being done by BiState Construction.

The cost of the Popple and BiState Projects is $10.8 million, which is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Project Area: New Hope at the Delaware River inlet to Lower Makefield Township
Action: Bids will be opened on April 17, 2008 for repair of the canal prism and towpath.

Project Area: Wy-Hit-Tuk Park in Williams Township to Indian Rock Inn
Action: Bids will be opened on April 29, 2008 for repair of stop gates, waste gates, a footbridge, and other structures.

Project Area: Lock 5 in Yardley Borough to Ferry Road in Lower Makefield
Action: Bids will be opened on April 29, 2008 for replacement of the culvert at Black Rock Road and dredging.
This project will be funded through the PA Capital Budget.

Project Area: Raubsville to Bridgeton Hill Road in Upper Black Eddy
Action: The State has projected that bids will be opened in May 2008 for repair of the canal prism and towpath.

Project Area: Lock 14 in Point Pleasant to Bowman’s Hill in Solebury Township
Action: The State has projected that bids will be opened in May 2008 for repair of various locks, wastegates, and other structures.

Project Area: Bridgeton Hill Road in Upper Black Eddy to New Hope
Action: The State has projected that bids will be opened in June 2008 for repair of the canal prism and towpath.

Project: Rocky Falls Stop Gate in Williams Township
Action: The State has projected that bids will be opened in July 2008 for repair of the structure.

Project: Riegelsville Stop Gate
Action: The State has projected that bids will be opened in August 2008 for replacement of the structure.

Project: Lock 12 in Lumberville
Action: The State has projected that bids will be opened in September 2008 for the lock reconstruction.

All of the projects listed with the exception of the Black Rock Road culvert replacement and dredging will be funded by FEMA and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The contracts for the canal prism and towpath repair projects allow for the work to be done in 360 days or less; the structure contracts have a 270-day length.

On March 11th, Tom Williams and Susan Taylor from the Friends traveled to Harrisburg to meet with the Delaware Canal State Park Legislative Caucus. The purpose of the trip was to ask the legislators to help streamline the State’s internal funding process for the upcoming flood repair projects. A full six months elapsed between the time that the successful bidders for the Easton projects were chosen and the time that the funds were made available to PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources so that Notice to Proceed could be issued to the contractors. Typically, the length of time should be 90 days.

Senator Chuck McIlhinney, Representative Marguerite Quinn, and Representative Scott Petri, who attended the Caucus meeting personally, promised to convene a meeting with the Secretaries of the Department of General Services and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to hammer out a way to ensure that future projects aren’t unduly delayed.

May all these projects, as well as all the others that are on the books, have wings. Come to the Friends’ General Meeting on May 13th to hear Rick Dalton provide more details about what’s happening in the Delaware Canal State Park.






						Recovery Updates his section is provided to track recovery work on the Canal from the major flood damage inflicted by the storms of 2004, 2005 and 2006. Check back in this area often to learn of any updates, provided by representatives of FODC and other related entities. A Surge of Progress: April, 2008 We have momentum! Canal repair and improvement projects are Underway or Out for bid or Nearly ready to be put out for bid. Project Area: Easton to Groundhog Lock (aka Theodore Roosevelt Recreation Area) in Raubsville Action: Flood damage to the canal prism and towpath is now being repaired by Popple Construction. Project Area: Palmer Fish Ladder on the Lehigh River; Lock 24, Weigh Lock, and Fish Ladder in Easton Action: Reconstruction and adjacent dredging is currently being done by BiState Construction. The cost of the Popple and BiState Projects is $10.8 million, which is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Project Area: New Hope at the Delaware River inlet to Lower Makefield Township Action: Bids will be opened on April 17, 2008 for repair of the canal prism and towpath. Project Area: Wy-Hit-Tuk Park in Williams Township to Indian Rock Inn Action: Bids will be opened on April 29, 2008 for repair of stop gates, waste gates, a footbridge, and other structures. Project Area: Lock 5 in Yardley Borough to Ferry Road in Lower Makefield Action: Bids will be opened on April 29, 2008 for replacement of the culvert at Black Rock Road and dredging. This project will be funded through the PA Capital Budget. Project Area: Raubsville to Bridgeton Hill Road in Upper Black Eddy Action: The State has projected that bids will be opened in May 2008 for repair of the canal prism and towpath. Project Area: Lock 14 in Point Pleasant to Bowman’s Hill in Solebury Township Action: The State has projected that bids will be opened in May 2008 for repair of various locks, wastegates, and other structures. Project Area: Bridgeton Hill Road in Upper Black Eddy to New Hope Action: The State has projected that bids will be opened in June 2008 for repair of the canal prism and towpath. Project: Rocky Falls Stop Gate in Williams Township Action: The State has projected that bids will be opened in July 2008 for repair of the structure. Project: Riegelsville Stop Gate Action: The State has projected that bids will be opened in August 2008 for replacement of the structure. Project: Lock 12 in Lumberville Action: The State has projected that bids will be opened in September 2008 for the lock reconstruction. All of the projects listed with the exception of the Black Rock Road culvert replacement and dredging will be funded by FEMA and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The contracts for the canal prism and towpath repair projects allow for the work to be done in 360 days or less; the structure contracts have a 270-day length. On March 11th, Tom Williams and Susan Taylor from the Friends traveled to Harrisburg to meet with the Delaware Canal State Park Legislative Caucus. The purpose of the trip was to ask the legislators to help streamline the State’s internal funding process for the upcoming flood repair projects. A full six months elapsed between the time that the successful bidders for the Easton projects were chosen and the time that the funds were made available to PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources so that Notice to Proceed could be issued to the contractors. Typically, the length of time should be 90 days. Senator Chuck McIlhinney, Representative Marguerite Quinn, and Representative Scott Petri, who attended the Caucus meeting personally, promised to convene a meeting with the Secretaries of the Department of General Services and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to hammer out a way to ensure that future projects aren’t unduly delayed. May all these projects, as well as all the others that are on the books, have wings. Come to the Friends’ General Meeting on May 13th to hear Rick Dalton provide more details about what’s happening in the Delaware Canal State Park.















	© 2007-2008. All Rights Reserved.