This news comes courtesy of WalkBikeJersey, one of our favorite blogs:
The towpath's new look, from WalkBikeJersey
At some point this past summer, a portion of the Delaware and Raritan Canal Towpath was resurfaced and the width standardized using a crushed red shale aggregate. The installation of the new surface has been confirmed from Landing Lane in New Brunswick, all the way down to the Griggstown Causeway but could extend further south than that.
The new surface is a real pleasure to ride on and is even stable enough for cyclists using narrow road tires. With the new smooth surface, riding the canal towpath can now be done at faster speeds and is wide enough for two riders to comfortably ride abreast of one another.
Also, red shale is native to the Piedmont Region that the canal passes through so it looks natural and not out of place like some of the other materials used on the path in the past.
The new surface only goes 2.4 miles south of Blackwells Mills, and about 1.1 miles shy of the Griggstown Causeway, FYI. Yes, it is much better, thanks!