Towpath Has Reopened in Yardley
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
The towpath between the Mary Yardley Footbridge and the Sommer’s Camelback Bridge has reopened. The elevation project is complete.
The towpath between the Mary Yardley Footbridge and the Sommer’s Camelback Bridge has reopened. The elevation project is complete.
From the Delaware Canal State Park
TRAIL CLOSURE UPDATES
TINICUM AQUEDUCT AREA (MILE 37): The towpath and pedestrian bridge at the Tinicum Aqueduct is now REOPENED as of 9/25.
SCUDDER FALLS AREA (MILE 16): The towpath may be closed intermittently in the area of I-95/I-295, Scudder Falls Bridge, through end of November 2020. Signs will be posted on the trail during the closure periods. Closures may occur between 7am-5pm Monday through Friday; the trail will be open on weekends. The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission (DRJTBC) will be conducting work on the new bridge over the canal and towpath during these closures. For additional information please visit the DRJTBC website at www.scudderfallsbridge.com or you can contact the toll-free info line at 855-495-7726.
YARDLEY AREA (MILE 14): [NEW] Beginning Oct 13, the towpath will be closed in Yardley between the Mary Yardley footbridge and Sommer’s Camelback bridge, Monday through Friday 8am-4pm, while DCNR staff complete a towpath elevation project. During the closure, heavy equipment will be actively working on the towpath making it unsafe for visitors to pass through. Closure signs are posted at either end of the closure. The towpath will be open on weekends. This notice will be updated when the project is complete.
The towpath in the vicinity of the Scudder Falls Bridge project in Lower Makefield Township will not be closed until Tuesday, December 26th. Happy riding and walking this week.
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission has announced that the Delaware Canal towpath in the vicinity of the Scudder Falls Bridge project in Lower Makefield Township will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the following dates:
The scheduled closures are needed for work associated with the widening of the current approach bridge structure that carries I-95 across the Delaware Canal and its towpath. The work will involvd both staged demolition and construction activities.
The closure periods are subject to change due to weather and other considerations. Pedestrians and bicyclists are urged to exercise caution when traveling along the Canal near or through work areas for the duration of the 4-1/2-year-long bridge replacement project.
Water level in the Canal will be lowered in several areas of Delaware Canal State Park beginning on Monday, September 26. The drawdown will allow for preventive maintenance, inspections and several small repair projects. Large stretches of the Canal will have low water levels until work is completed. It is anticipated that rewatering will begin on November 1.
Areas affected will include:
The full text of the announcement from Joshua S. Swartley, Park Manager, is below:
Delaware Canal State Park is planning for a maintenance drawdown of the canal beginning on September 26, 2016. The canal will be drawn down in multiple sections of the park to perform preventative maintenance, inspections, and to complete several small repair projects.
Work associated with this drawdown will take place at Smith’s Bridge (Woody’s Bridge) in the Raubsville area, Lock 22/23 (Groundhog Lock) in the Raubsville area, Lower Limeport Bridge in the Solebury Township area, the Bowman’s Hill area, the Lock 5 area in Yardley Borough, and in the Airport Road area of Bristol Township.
Due to this drawdown and the low river levels in New Hope, large stretches of the canal will have low water levels until work is completed. It is anticipated that the canal will be re-watered in the beginning of November. 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 15th and October 1st, 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 turtles, fish, and other species of concern to a safe location should they become stranded in a section of the canal with low water.
If you have any questions or would like additional information about the planned drawdown of the canal please contact the park office for assistance.
Sincerely.
Joshua S. Swartley
Park Manager
Friends of the Delaware Canal
145 South Main Street
New Hope, PA 18938
Phone: 215.862.2021
Michael Ginder, Executive Director
Helping on Canal Clean-up Day is just one way you can get involved and help to restore, preserve and improve the Delaware Canal. Big or small, the perfect job for you awaits – all you need to do is get involved! FIND OUT MORE