Popolopen Gorge Trail and portions of the 1779, 1777W and Timp Torne Trails to be closed into spring 2012

Work to replace a water line that runs through the Popolopen Gorge will close the Popolopen Gorge Trail and portions of the 1779, 1777W and Timp Torne Trails beginning at about the end of September, according to the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. The closure will affect trails for a distance of 2.2 miles through the Gorge. 

The Queensboro Water Transmission Main Replacement work will involve directional drilling and trenching, likely including some blasting, to replace the old aqueduct that provides water to Bear Mountain facilities.  Duration of the project is expected to be  six months, possibly extending into late spring of 2012.  The work will destroy the trail surface; reconditioning of the surface is included in the work plan.

The map below indicates (yellow outline) the area of the trails to be closed.  To aid in understanding the full situation of limited access to trails in the area, also indicated is the former location of the Popolopen Creek bridge that was washed aside by Hurricane Irene.   Replacement of this long fiberglass bridge will be an extended process, requiring determination of the repair procedure, consideration of raising the height of the bridge, acquiring funding, accomplishing the repair, and moving and reinstalling the bridge into place.