Transportation Restoration Of The Catoctin Aqueduct > Projects > Restoration Of The Catoctin Aqueduct KEY CHALLENGES & PROJECT DETAILS This contract provides for the complete restoration of the historic Catoctin Aqueduct, originally built starting in 1832, completed in 1834. The Catoctin Aqueduct, originally part of the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal, is located on the historically important site where the C&O Canal and the B&O Railroad competed to cross Catoctin Creek The contract requires that the historic structure, one of 11 stone aqueducts along the 184 miles of the C&O Canal, appear as it did when first built The stone structure had two 20’ arches and one center 40’ elliptical arch, all of which had collapsed All the remaining original stone is being reused in building the new arches, with new stone mixed in only where necessary The age of the structure presented challenges, causing continuous design changes due to changes in site conditions The size of the watershed drained by Catoctin Creek presented additional challenges In early December, 2010, a 2 inch rain caused the creek level to rise approximately 12 feet in a 12 hour period; it took 3 days for the water recede to a level where work could continue safely Popular with the biking/hiking public, truck escorts and flaggers have maintained pedestrian and biker access to the towpath throughout the duration of the project Scheduled for completion in late summer, 2011 PROJECT DETAILS: Project Owner: US Department of the Interior, National Park Service Location: C&O Canal National Historical Park, Maryland Close
KEY CHALLENGES & PROJECT DETAILS This contract provides for the complete restoration of the historic Catoctin Aqueduct, originally built starting in 1832, completed in 1834. The Catoctin Aqueduct, originally part of the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal, is located on the historically important site where the C&O Canal and the B&O Railroad competed to cross Catoctin Creek The contract requires that the historic structure, one of 11 stone aqueducts along the 184 miles of the C&O Canal, appear as it did when first built The stone structure had two 20’ arches and one center 40’ elliptical arch, all of which had collapsed All the remaining original stone is being reused in building the new arches, with new stone mixed in only where necessary The age of the structure presented challenges, causing continuous design changes due to changes in site conditions The size of the watershed drained by Catoctin Creek presented additional challenges In early December, 2010, a 2 inch rain caused the creek level to rise approximately 12 feet in a 12 hour period; it took 3 days for the water recede to a level where work could continue safely Popular with the biking/hiking public, truck escorts and flaggers have maintained pedestrian and biker access to the towpath throughout the duration of the project Scheduled for completion in late summer, 2011 PROJECT DETAILS: Project Owner: US Department of the Interior, National Park Service Location: C&O Canal National Historical Park, Maryland Close