Wabash & Erie Canal volunteers took a break from current construction of the new canal museum exhibit construction. As usual these men have fun doing a viriety of jobs--this time the work of assemblying an 8 foot tall multi-arch plate pipe. Needed on site was a 60 foot long "egg shape" culvert to connect the towpath trail southwest from Canal Park under the Stone Company's railroad. Assembly took three days and about 8-9 volunteers with tools and machinery.

Funds for the underpass came from the last of a trail development grant provided by the Depatrment of Natural Resources. The pipe underpass connects two completed portions of the Underhill Towpath Trail. Several years ago Gerry and Faye Underhill donated the land along the 160 year old man-made waterway to the Canal Association. This is now part of a seven mile Delphi Historic Trails system.

Technical service and advice was offered by Jason LaCroix from Contech Construction Products Company's Indianapolis office. To the pleasure of local leaders this pipe sale came with exceptionally good engineering assistance and professional services from LaCroix. A meeting with Stone Company, City of Delphi, Canal Association volunteers and Jason provided the impetus to start assembly.

The pipe will be installed under the spur line railroad sometime this summer or fall by contractor Jack Cohee, the City and Canal Association. Extra care will be taken to properly install and compact the fill beside the new pipe so the weight of locomotives will safely pass this site where mules once towed canal boats along the Wabash & Erie Canal in west Delphi. Work will be coordinated and checked by a Louisville railroad track specialty firm.

Thanks go to all that are helping to make this a reality. - Dan McCain.

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