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Thanks Bill. Could you tell what the dynamics were? The river attacking the canal and its banks and then the road? Or a failure in the canal itself?

@Bill Neil
Hey Bill – I should have noted this in the post.

From what I could tell, it looked like the river ran across a broad floodplain, over-topped and washed out the Canal Tow Path, and then came right up and washed the roadway out.

If you Google Earth Lambertville, follow the river south and you will see just about 2 miles south of the point where Rt 29 goes to a single lane (at mile 16) there is a grassland dominated floodplain between the river and the road.

When I initially got to the site, I noted that the road washed out directly across the street from an old mined area on the eastern side of the road. I immediately assumed that the mine drainage had wiped out the road.

I ran that by one of the guys working at the site, but he said no, that the river had run right up to the road.

I’m working on two other aspects of this story with Trenton Times.

1) I saw many times more men, equipment and materials responding to restoring the D&R Canal than the road. That seems an odd allocation f resources (from teh public’s perspective, not necessarily mine – I loved riding the bike on a closed roadd!)

2) There were at least a half dozen tree crews doing routine tree maintenance (destruction) along a closed portion of Rt. 29. I would object to this in normal times, but it really was bad given that – in my neck of the woods – there are still many downed trees and power lines that have not be cleaned up yet, so folks still have no power. Those tree crews should be doing that work.

That would have been my guess. I’m trying to remember whether any communities south and east – heading towards New Brunswick – of this washout depend on the canal for drinking water; remember, decades ago, there was a canal-length dig out of the old sediment, a big project, and I think that was one of the rationales. And I don’t know if there are “re-fill” mechanisms to get river water – via controlled points, not washouts – back into the canal. The D & R Canal Commission might have the answers – or have they been privatized?

@Bill Neil
ill – the D&R Canal supplies 100 million gallons per day drinking water to dozens of towns in central NJ.

Gov. Christie proposed to abolish the D&R Canal Commission, but that move was strongly opposed by Dems and DEP Commissioner Martin backtracked and agreed to retain it. See:

Christie Plan To Abolish D&R Canal Commission Draws Fire
http://www.wolfenotes.com/2011/04/christie-plan-to-abolish-dr-canal-commission-draws-fire/

Hey Bill…we sell golf cars and we need to get to Farmingdale soon. We normally come across the Lambertville bridge from New Hope and travel down 29 to get to Trenton..catch 195 out to Farmingdale. We tried to come the other day when we had no clue that the road was out. We were unsure where the detour would take us..we are going to be towing a landscape trailer..where does the detour take you to get back onto 29 or get over to Trenton or 195? Does it take you way out of your way? Please email or call me and let me know. I would appreciate it. My cell # is (610) 462-7902. I turn my phone off at night, but it is usually on by 10:30 am. Thanks in advance for your help.

@Barbara Comfort
From New Hope, go up Rt. 179 hill to Rt 31 south down to 295 then over to 195.

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly..but wouldnt it be easier to go 518 to 546 to 29 then to 195. That way we would be back on the original road that we would normally take. Let me know…thanks

Do they have any idea how long repairs might take?

Rt 29 is now open, used it this morning.

wow..one thing about New Jersey..they get things done..so Gus if we come over the New Hope/Lambertville bridge and turn right onto 29..we will be able to travel all the way to 195/Trenton with no detour off of 29?

29 is closed again due to at leasr three areas of problems. I live in lambertville and i must take 518 to 31 to get in to Trenton.