Flat Rock Dam improvement in Manayunk will close section of Schuylkill River Trail
The trail portion will be closed starting September 11 through the end of 2023.
The Flat Rock Dam Betterment project, a multi-year ecological project restoring an eastern portion of the dam, will cause a 3-4 month closure on the Schuylkill River Trail between Manayunk and Miquon this fall to all pedestrians and bikers. The project will improve water quality and habitat in the Manayunk Canal and Schuylkill River while preserving historic structures that are part of Philadelphia's industrial legacy.
The trail will be closed in this area from September 11 through the end of 2023.
Temporary suspension of trail use is necessary for pedestrian and cyclist safety as the work along the steep embankment is completed. This closure will include all trail-impacting work activities for the remainder of the project and we do not anticipate future closures related to these improvements.
Learn more in our recent blog post about Flat Rock Dam.
 Detour Information
During this time, closure signs will be posted on both ends of the obstructed portion: one at the Shawmont Station at Shawmont and Nixon Streets at Shawmont Station, and one just below Leverington Ave. on the Manayunk Towpath.
Pedestrians and bikers will be able to travel further on the SRT toward the worksite, but will meet a dead end at the Flat Rock Dam and will be required to turn around.
The mapped detour route will run from Shawmont Ave. and Nixon St. up to Minerva/Umbria St. along Umbria St. to Leverington Ave., and back down to rejoin the SRT at the Manayunk Towpath. Cyclists and hikers should be advised that this detour route has some steep inclines and not all areas have bike lanes or sidewalks. Those using local streets to reconnect with the trail should follow local traffic regulations and proceed with caution.
Background on Flat Rock Dam
Currently underway through 2024, the Flat Rock Dam Betterment Project started in Fall 2022 to reconnect the Manayunk Canal with the Schuylkill River.
The historic Manayunk Canal was closed to navigation in the 1940s, and the flow of fresh moving water from the Schuylkill River has been cut off for decades. This project will help improve water quality for both residents and wildlife in the Manayunk Canal and Schuylkill River.
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