Bridges on the Erie Canal

There are many bridges over the Erie Canal . Some are modern like the Interstate 90 bridges but most are old to very old. Sometimes you just see the remains of a bridge that probably was part of the infrastructure of the 1862 canal update. The lowest bridge (second photo) is the E-93 at mile 209.4 (16 feet) which we cleared with a couple of feet to spare.

The canal was updated many times since its initial construction in 1825 (Clinton's Ditch). Major changes happened in 1862 (Enlarged Erie Canal) and in 1918 (Erie Barge Canal). Today it is primarily used for recreation although there is some growing interest in using it commercially again. Moving bulk products by barge is very inexpensive.

The canal follows rivers when it can and other times is a man made ditch and straight as an arrow. Regardless, it is always beautiful as we slide along through small villages and park like rural areas. The small towns cater to the boaters, bikers, and hikers with many cafes and coffee shops and each town has a free dock, often with water and electrical hookups.

There are 15 lift bridges in the western 1/3rd of the canal. The lift bridge in the photo is very unusual because of the odd angle it makes with the river. One side is highter than the other and it crosses the canal at an angle so no two angles in the bridge structure are the same. The lift bridges only lift to about 15 ft so they don't slow you down too much with long waits.