The D&L Blog

Closing Gaps and Creating Connections on the D&L Trail

Written by Steve Fala, edited by Dan DiBella

In October of 2025, the Lumberville Aqueduct Bridge reopened after four years, having been destroyed by Hurricane Ida in 2021. The High Falls Sub Canal Culvert, just north of Upper Black Eddy was similarly christened the same month, having suffered the same fate at the hands of Ida. The total cost for both bridges was $6 million.

While spending $6 million to complete less than 200 feet of trail might seem like an expensive price tag for a mostly rural trail, closing these gaps represents much more to the surrounding communities. With these gaps, most cyclists were forced to turn around at this juncture, as a River Road detour was fraught with risk. Riders could use the Lumberville-Raven Rock pedestrian bridge and loop around this obstacle via the New Jersey side, but this was not always optimal either.

Closing the Gaps in Bucks County

Together, the projects created a continuous connection for the trail towns such as Upper Black Eddy, Point Pleasant, and Riegelsville along the river, while providing easy access to many of the historic and scenic sites in northern Bucks County. These include the Uhlerstown Covered Bridge, which cyclists ride directly under before looping around to the front for the requisite picture. By far, the most scenic feature along this part of the trail is the Nockamixon Cliffs, which tower high above the river, dwarfing the riders below.

The projects also restored the connection between riders and local businesses, including restaurants and stores along the trail. Upper Black Eddy is home to two of the best lunch spots including the Narrows restaurant located just off the trail, and the Homestead General Store which is located directly on the trail. Both offer convenient outside seating. If you get to the general store when it opens at 8AM, you’ll be having breakfast (and great coffee) with all the locals. Thankfully, as a long-time family business on the trail, they are used to wayward cyclists and their sometimes odd biking attire, so you’ll fit right in.

A Long-Awaited Connection in Jim Thorpe

While these two bridges closed trail gaps, the Mansion House Bridge across the Lehigh River connected Jim Thorpe to the southern towns along the D&L Trail. Costing $5.3 million for the bridge and surrounding infrastructure, this long-awaited connection finally allowed riders to easily venture south on the trail. The bridge opened temporarily in June 2018 as part of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Sojourn ride, allowing 300 riders to cross on their way to Easton, the permanent (or so we thought) opening happened in August 2019. Adventurers could now easily reach downstream communities like Lehighton, Weissport, Slatington and other small towns. The bridge saw another temporary closure in 2024 due to downstream trail damage. During this interruption, businesses in the downstream towns noticed decreased traffic, clearly demonstrating the impact of this connection.

Connecting Communities and Local Economies

Restoring all these bridges creates connections to farther-flung communities as the draw of a unique experience attracts out-of-towners and day-trippers. This in turn brings economic benefits with increased traffic to restaurants, microbreweries, outfitters, and other businesses. Shared experiences now exist between rural and urban/suburban communities, providing common ground among sometimes discordant groups of people.

Connecting People to the Environment

An often-overlooked connection is created between the trail and the surrounding environment, demonstrating the benefits of preserving outdoor spaces. The cliffs above the trail support nesting birds, including eagles and hawks seemingly unfazed by the passersby below. The pristine hills rising along the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers have unbroken forests that bring spectacular fall colors, reinforcing the desire to protect these lands for our children and future generations.

More Than Three Bridges

Advocacy organizations have long understood that the value of improvements and upgrades exceeds the cost of the infrastructure. As small and large projects come together, they create benefits and build connections beyond the venture itself. Projects like the Great Allegheny Passage in Western PA utilized abandoned rail corridors to connect small communities, providing economic opportunities in underserved areas. History will show that closing these trail gaps will stimulate similar results for the benefit of this region. While it may seem like a tale of three bridges, the outcome of these endeavors is a web of connections that strengthens the bonds between people, communities, businesses, and history.

The work of connecting the D&L Trail continues

Learn about a once-in-a-generation opportunity to close the Luzerne Gap and create a vital connection between the D&L Trail and Wilkes-Barre.

Learn more about the Luzerne Gap and how you can support this important connection.