The D&L Blog

Lumberville Aqueduct Pedestrian Bridge Reopens: What’s Next for the Delaware Canal?  

Delaware Canal State Park officially announced the reopening of the Lumberville Aqueduct Pedestrian Bridge at Mile Marker 31.1 on Wednesday, October 29, 2025—a long-awaited milestone for trail users and canal enthusiasts alike.  

This was one of two segments along the Delaware Canal section of the D&L Trail destroyed by Tropical Storm Ida in 2021, suffering extensive damage, including the loss of a structural pier. After years of planning and substantial repairs beginning in 2024, the bridge is now safe, restored, and ready for public use.   

“The completion of the Lumberville Aqueduct is a significant milestone in restoring the Delaware Canal following the damage caused by Tropical Storm Ida. This achievement reflects the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ continued commitment to maintaining safe and accessible infrastructure for all who visit and enjoy the park,” said one representative from Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).   

Community Impact 

The reopening of the Lumberville Aqueduct Pedestrian Bridge has already been met with enthusiastic support from trail users.   

“This looks great and will significantly improve safety for those who previously had to detour onto the road,” said Rob Ostry, a pedestrian and avid user of the D&L Trail, as he shared his appreciation.   

“The construction crew did an outstanding job reconstructing the canal floor, hauling in countless dump trucks of clay to get it right,” Joseph Urick, who assisted with painting the bridge, added. “Beyond that, the masonry work and the newly built bridge are top-notch and built to last for decades. Huge thanks to the neighbors who generously let us use their parking spots during the project!”  

Our thanks go out to Delaware Canal State Park for the completion of the Lumberville Aqueduct Project, whose hard work made this possible!   

What’s Next for the Canal?   

Now that the towpath is reopened at the Lumberville Aqueduct Pedestrian Bridge (MM 31.1), restoration efforts will continue just north at the High Falls Creek sub-canal culvert (MM 44.27), which is under active construction to restore the canal, the creek culvert, and the towpath. Completion is expected by year’s end.  

As for the canal itself, DCNR is actively working toward refilling it, though a projected completion date is still to be determined. The progress at Lumberville brings us one step closer to restoring water to the canal and full connectivity along the towpath.   

More broadly, the D&L Trail still faces three major gaps that prevent a fully connected route from Bristol to Wilkes-Barre: the Luzerne Gap, the Lehigh Valley Gap, and the Delaware Canal Gap. These missing links are a top priority for trail advocates. Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (DLNHC) and our community partners are actively working to close trail gaps to create safe, continuous trail connections throughout the Corridor—every milestone brings us closer to that vision. 

To learn more or to view our Interactive Map, visit delawareandlehigh.org or follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on trail news and updates.