Removal of Non-historic pedestrian bridges

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park » Removal of Non-historic pedestrian bridges » Document List

The National Park Service, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, proposes to remove two non-contributing features located at Mile 83.4 and 96.0 of the park. These features are pedestrian access bridges spanning the historic canal prism, and associated stairsteps adjacent to the park's historic towpath. The structures were built in the late 1970's by adjacent landowners as a means to access the Potomac River.

The structures have not been adequately maintained by the land owners and have been closed as they pose a safety risk to the public. The park proposes to remove the structures and allow the sites to return to natural conditions.

The structures have been evaluated in both cultural landscape significance and eligibility for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. It has been determined that the structures do not contribute to the park's cultural landscape.

The park's Interdisciplinary Team reviewed the project for impacts to natural and cultural resources. The project does not pose any serious or long-term effects to the environmental, historical, cultural, archeological, or visual resources. It meets categorical exclusion #E.4 – Removal of non-historic materials and structures in order to restore natural conditions when the removal has no potential for environmental impacts, including impacts to cultural landscapes or archeological resources.


Upon review under the National Historic Preservation Act/Section 106 Programmatic Agreement, no historic properties will be affected.



Contact Information

For further information regarding this project, please contact the Deputy Superintendent at 1850 Dual Highway, Suite 100, Hagerstown, MD 21740.