Construction Roebling's Delaware Aqueduct

the bridge before restoration. suspension cables hidden in restored aqueduct canal sides

russell f. lord , john a. roebling designed bridge , supervised construction.

two important local industries conflicting needs brought construction of roebling s delaware , lackawaxen aqueducts: canal traffic , timber rafting. since mid-18th century, timber delaware valley had been floated down river shipyards , industries in trenton , philadelphia. d&h canal s rope ferry crossing of delaware @ lackawaxen created bottleneck, , there numerous collisions timber rafts headed downstream. in 1846, alleviate both problems, d&h canal company approved russell f. lord s plan substitute 2 new aqueducts in place of rope ferry.

after evaluating several options, lord recommended designs submitted john a. roebling, had built wire suspension aqueduct @ pittsburgh in 1845. raise canal enough allow passage of ice floes , river traffic, lord s plan called 3 locks built on eastern side.

an immediate success, delaware aqueduct — cost $41,750 – , lackawaxen aqueduct — cost $18,650, , of abutments remain – reduced canal travel time 1 full day, saving thousands of dollars annually.