D&R canal towpath closed - Griggstown to Rocky Hill

[rick81721]

Since the towpath and 6mr are technically the same park, figured I'd put this here. The canal is being dredged, so that section is closed for those that ride it. I think eventually they will move north so the next section (griggstown to blackwells mills may be next)

 

[mstyer]

I don't understand why that section is closed, meanwhile the dredging barge is between Rocky Hill and Kingston but that section isn't closed. Logic.

 

[rick81721]

I don't understand why that section is closed, meanwhile the dredging barge is between Rocky Hill and Kingston but that section isn't closed. Logic.

Maybe there's more than one? Thought I saw one on the closed section a few days ago

PS the turtles are liking that giant pipe that floats on top

 

[alex_k]

My guess, they have a temporary dumping site there

 

[Dingo]

Since the towpath and 6mr are technically the same park, figured I'd put this here. The canal is being dredged, so that section is closed for those that ride it. I think eventually they will move north so the next section (griggstown to blackwells mills may be next)

Interesting, Why are they dredging? Are they planing on towing barges by mules again.

 

[rlb]

Why deredge a canal that sees no vessel traffic, aside from kayaks with a 6" draft?

 

[Karate Monkey]

Why deredge a canal that sees no vessel traffic, aside from kayaks with a 6" draft?

It's used as storm drainage/irrigation. The more it holds, the better for everyone. During Irene, it overflowed in Princeton, thankfully into the marsh.

 

[rick81721]

Why deredge a canal that sees no vessel traffic, aside from kayaks with a 6" draft?

Interesting, Why are they dredging? Are they planing on towing barges by mules again.

Just a guess but maybe for flood control? The deeper it is, the more water it can hold before it floods canal road (and 6mr)

 

[Dingo]

I did find this.
Kinda amazing a man made water ditch that was designed in the 1830's to transport goods is a water supply?

I still wonder how they figured out how to keep the water level, and where to place the locks.

http://www.njwsa.org/canal-dredging.html

 

[mwlikesbikes]

These days the canal acts as a resivoir, I know that the NJ American water plant in Bridgewater uses it to feed the filter plant.

 

[The Kalmyk]

These days the canal acts as a resivoir, I know that the NJ American water plant in Bridgewater uses it to feed the filter plant.

North Brunswick has used since the 80’s

 

[rlb]

New Brunswick uses it too. And I believe NJAW has 2 plants off the canal.

Flood control was my original thought, but I think the water level is controlled by the elevation of the locks and spillways, and not the depth of the canal itself. It will just hold more volume I believe. Then again I'm not and engineer so WTF do I really know?

 

[rlb]

These days the canal acts as a resivoir, I know that the NJ American water plant in Bridgewater uses it to feed the filter plant.

Coach shreddy was closest, it's to maintain capacity to supply the water treatment plants
http://www.njwsa.org/canal-dredging.html

Edit: Duh, @Dingo already posted this link. Reading comprehension failure!

 

[Tim]

Maybe there's more than one? Thought I saw one on the closed section a few days ago

PS the turtles are liking that giant pipe that floats on top

There are 2 separate dredges in the canal. I rode through the closed section last Friday evening and it was a disaster. In addition to the dredging they are repairing one of the valve/spillway sections and the towpath is a complete mess.

 

[Patrick]

I did find this.
..
I still wonder how they figured out how to keep the water level, and where to place the locks.

surveyors transit ?

 

[Dingo]

surveyors transit ?

Well yeah, but planning the easiest route, without aerial surveys and such. Must have been a really big project back then.

 

[rlb]

Well yeah, but planning the easiest route, without aerial surveys and such. Must have been a really big project back then.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delaware_and_Raritan_Canal

In 1816, the New Jersey legislature created a commission of three people, including John Rutherfurd, a former United States Senator and a major landowner in New Jersey, which was authorized to survey and map a proposed route for a canal. Rutherfurd engaged John Randel Jr. to do the survey; Rutherfurd knew Randel from his work on the New York City Commissioners' Plan of 1811, for which Rutherfurd was one of the commissioners, and Randel was the chief surveyor. The route was to be "a level line as far as was practicable from Longbridge farm to the Delaware, and to the Raritan, in the shortest direction that the ground would admit, which line should be run with the greatest accuracy, and be esteemed the base line of the work." Randel spent two months surveying this route and, with the aid of a millwright, estimating water flow. They came to the conclusion that the canal would require less than an eighteenth of the water passing through the local streams, which would still leave enough water flow for local mills.[3] Despite Randel's report, and the clear advantage of having such a canal, the opposition to the project managed to keep anything from happening until 1830.[2]

 

[pygmypony]

Maybe there's more than one? Thought I saw one on the closed section a few days ago

PS the turtles are liking that giant pipe that floats on top

truth. saw dozens of them when we rode the path last weekend.

 

[mstyer]

There are 2 separate dredges in the canal. I rode through the closed section last Friday evening and it was a disaster. In addition to the dredging they are repairing one of the valve/spillway sections and the towpath is a complete mess.

I ended up riding this section last evening as the signs at Rocky Hill were turned aside. I saw quite a few other people enjoying the trail as well. There was one tight spot where I had to pick my way around a generator near the repair mentioned, but otherwise it was in great shape. The sign at Griggstown was still in place, oddly.