Towpath Closures at Scudder Falls Bridge Project Now Intermittent

November 20, 2019

INTERMITTENT TRAIL CLOSURE:  The towpath may be closed in the area of I-95/I-295, Scudder Falls Bridge, intermittently through end of December 2019.  Closures may occur between 6am-5pm Monday through Friday; the trail will be open on weekends. The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission (DRJTBC) will be demolishing the existing bridge over the canal during these closures.  For additional information please visit the DRJTBC website at www.drjtbc.org/project/scudder-falls or you can contact the Delaware Canal State Park Office at 610-982-5560.

Towpath to be Closed at Scudder’s Falls Bridge Project

Wednesday, November 6

24/7 TRAIL CLOSURE:  The towpath is closed in the area of I-95/I-295, Scudder Falls Bridge, beginning Wednesday November 6 and lasting roughly 2 weeks.  Contractors for the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission (DRJTBC) working on the interstate bridge will be demolishing the old span over the Canal, which will require day and night closure of the towpath below.  This section WILL be closed over the weekend of November 9 and 10, and possibly November 16 and 17.  We will update this closure notice once the work is complete and the trail is reopened. For additional information please visit the DRJTBC website at www.drjtbc.org/project/scudder-falls or you can contact the Delaware Canal State Park Office at 610-982-5560.

Notice of Planned Maintenance Drawdown of the Canal

September 20, 2019

From the Delaware Canal State Park – Devin Buzard, Park Manager

Delaware Canal State Park is planning for a maintenance drawdown of the canal beginning on October 7, 2019. The canal will be drawn down in multiple sections of the park to perform preventive maintenance, inspections, and to complete several large repair projects.

Work associated with this drawdown will take place at Lock 22/23 (Theodore Roosevelt Recreation Area) in Raubsville, Fry’s Run Aqueduct in Williams Township, Tinicum Aqueduct in Tinicum Township, Thompson Neely Historic Camelback Bridge in the Bowman’s Hill area, and Canal prisim repair near Airport Road in Bristol Towship.

Due to this drawdown and the low river levels in New Hope, large stretches of the canal will have low water levels until water can be reintroduced where possible as projects are completed.  Sections of the canal from New Hope south are dependent on higher river levels for re-watering and may take longer to refill. Currently, water levels in the southern portion of the canal are extremely low, and, in some areas, non-existent due to the lack of water at the New Hope inlet.

Drawdown of the canal must take place between July 15 and October 15 due to the regulations established by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to protect the imperiled eastern redbelly turtle.  During the drawdown period, park staff will be on site to remove and relocate any fish and other species of concern to a safe location should they become stranded in a section of canal with low water.  Public assistance in locating stranded fish is appreciated.

If you have any questions or would like additional information about the planned drawdown of the canal, please contact the park office at 610-982-5560 for assistance.

 

Water Levels Low from New Hope South to Bristol

September 4, 2019

The level of the Delaware River has dropped below the level of the New Hope inlet, which is located near the developing River House at Odette’s site.   When this happens the Canal is water starved, since the primary water supply for the entire southern end of the Canal is the New Hope inlet.

Towpath Re-opened

July 24, 2019

The towpath has been re-opened from Mile 31 on the north end of Lumberville to Mile 32.3 on the south end of Point Pleasant.  Repair work to the stone wall between the Delaware River and the Canal is now complete.