The New York State Canal Corporation is planning the restoration of a key historical component of the Erie Canalway Trail — an aqueduct built in 1865 that once carried the canal over Ganargua Creek in Ontario County.
The structure, closed three years ago due to the discovery of cracks, had been weathering storm damage for decades and was further compromised in 2021 when an adjacent spillway embankment gave way.
Officials told the Finger Lakes Times that the organization’s attention was diverted to fixing the embankment, a more immediate concern that forced the state to lower canal levels, impacting navigation around Lock 30. The Canal Corp. now faces the dual challenge of preserving this significant piece of canal history and eliminating a potentially dangerous detour along Route 31.
To facilitate the aqueduct’s restoration, workers have been clearing vegetation from the former canal bed to enable engineers to access the structure.
Local community leaders, concerned about the continued use of the Route 31 detour and the threat it poses to public safety, have been invited to an advisory committee to discuss these issues.
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