Delayed Scudder Falls Bridge path now set to open in late summer

Susan Lee-Miller prepares for last Sunday's Bucks County Roadrunners Club Winter Series Wild Card race at Tyler State Park. (Photo by Ed Hawkey)

Those waiting for the Scudder Falls Bridge Replacement Project’s bicycle and pedestrian path to be completed are going to have to wait a little – or maybe “lot’’ is a better word — longer.

Scheduled to be opened in mid-summer 2020, that date has been pushed back to sometime late this summer.

According to the project’s website, the cause for the delay is COVID-19-related. Construction workers simply can’t get the materials needed to put the finishing touches on the promising bridge attachment.

When it’s done, both foot and pedal traffic will be able to travel from the canal path on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River to the path on the New Jersey side, with a possible stop for a notable view of the scenic surroundings.

Hopefully, there will be no more schedule setbacks and people will be able to get on the bridge by Labor Day.

>Winter Series rolls on

The Bucks County Roadrunners Club Winter Series is halfway through its revised eight-race schedule and so far, so good.

Joe Boyce directed last week’s Wild Card race (approximately five miles) which took runners over both paved and unpaved trails at Tyler State Park in Newtown.

“Another killer course planned by Joe and company, what we lacked in trails we made up for in hills,’’ wrote Winter Series director John O’Brien. “It was another great day to run, calm and peaceful to start and snow flurries while packing up.’’

Jamie Gray and Allyson Thompson won the Wild Card race in the male/female divisions respectively.

The timing of the just completed snowstorm should work in the club’s favor. Most of the trails should be clear of snow by the time Sunday rolls around.

>What mask to wear?

There must be a million different types of masks out there to ward off the COVID-19 germ and thousands of them probably are geared to athletics.

Question is: What are the attributes for the athletic-minded ones to provide top protection, allow proper breathing while maintaining a comfort level on your face.

In a recent article in Runners World Magazine, author Heather Mayer Irvine reviewed and rated a number of masks for athletes.

One which caught my eye is produced by Under Armor, a company with which I’ve had some success.

Here’s Irvine’s evaluation:

“Under Armour was the first mask designed for athletic performance that I had heard about, and it did not disappoint,’’ Irvine wrote. “The padded material was like a pillow for my face—in a good, non-suffocating way—and it made me realize that a performance mask can be comfortable and functional.

“Under Armour used its Iso-Chill fabric on the interior lining and ear loops, which keeps the material cool to the touch. And its polyurethane open-cell foam makes the mask breathable without heating your face up like a sauna.

“The contoured fit is comfortable, and the adjustable nose piece is subtle but effective in providing a better fit. When ordering, check out Under Armour’s updated sizing chart. Reviewers said the masks seem to run a little big.’’

Here are two problems I had with masks at the beginning of the pandemic: They pushed hot air up in the direction of my eyes and fogged up my sunglasses. In the winter, things get really bad and you feel like you’re running on a rainy night in London.

The other issue is getting enough airflow into your mouth when you’re running really fast. The only solution I can find is to pull the mask down during speedy workouts like on the track, as long as there’s no one else around.

Since it looks like we’re stuck with the current conditions for the better part of another year, you might as well find a mask that not only fits well but works well against the spread of the virus.

Race calendar

Sunday

Bucks County Roadrunners Club Winter Series Polar Bear 8-Miler, 9 a.m., Tyler State Park, Newtown. Contact www.bcrrclub.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

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About Wayne Fish 2539 Articles
Wayne Fish has been covering the Flyers since 1976, a stint which includes 18 Stanley Cup Finals, four Winter Olympics and numerous other international events.

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