A year of some trail, parking closures starts Tuesday at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge
The work will address sections from the dike road gate to the Tinicum Marsh Boardwalk as the result of Tropical Storm Isaias in August 2020. The storm flooded Dike Road and other areas.
A major project to restore parts of John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge damaged by a tropical storm begins Tuesday, leading to the closure of a widely used trail, some parking areas, and the draining of the impoundment area that draws so many visitors.
Though work is expected to take 12 months, Heinz will remain open, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Officials said the work is needed to address sections from the dike road gate to the Tinicum Marsh Boardwalk as the result of Tropical Storm Isaias in August 2020. The storm flooded the dike road for more than 1,800 feet in sections from the road gate to the boardwalk at Tinicum Marsh.
As a result, the dike road will be closed from the gate to the James Carroll Observation Tower, which will remain open, along with a bathroom. Visitors can still access the tower via the southern trail (Haul Road) and going around the impoundment.
However, the gravel lot and a portion of the parking lot will be used by the construction crew to stage equipment and materials, and will be closed to the public.
Signs will be posted to mark closures.
In addition, a portion of the 3.5-mile Wetland Loop Trail will be closed for “a long length of time,” according to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service document for volunteers at Heinz.
“We are excited to finally reinforce and strengthen the dike against future floods, and reveal the new trail, stairs, and fishing platform to our visitors,” the document reads.
Isaias dumped large volumes of water in the Darby Creek Watershed. Darby Creek runs alongside the refuge and feeds the large, 145-acre, lakelike impoundment area where visitors gravitate for birdwatching and scenery.
Rain rushed down the creek at the same time as a high-tide storm surge, spilling over the banks in Philadelphia’s Eastwick neighborhood and into neighboring Delaware County, causing major flooding.
At the refuge, waters overflowed the dike road, an old trolley bed, and parts of Haul Road also known as the Wetland Loop Trail. The flooding caused significant erosion and destroyed boardwalk stairs.
Officials made temporary emergency repairs. The new work will make more permanent restorations, including to infrastructure used to control the flow of water between Darby Creek and the impoundment.
The new infrastructure will allow for better management of water levels for bird migration and wildlife viewing.
As a result, staff drained the water from the impoundment back to Darby Creek so equipment could get in while protecting aquatic turtles during construction.
In addition, a damaged fishing platform along Darby Creek will be demolished, and a new platform will be built along Darby Creek across from the boardwalk.
The old set of stairs that used to lead to Big Boardwalk will be replaced, and improvements will be made to the accessible ramp connecting the boardwalk to the trail.
Heinz has more than 10 miles of trails and is widely visited by hikers and people seeking wildlife.
It has two entrances. The main entrance, at 86th Street and Lindbergh Boulevard in Southwest Philadelphia, provides access to the visitor center and trails. A second entrance on Route 420, just north of I-95, provides access to trails and fishing.
