Ghosts of the Erie Canal Past Present and Future

In 1825, amidst the industrial revolution taking place in the United States of America, the Erie Canal was constructed bringing industry and wealth to the communities along with it. Almost 200 years later, the governor of New York announced a 300-million-dollar plan to Reimagine the Canals and bring new economic and social development to those communities along the canal.

Of the 57 locks and 19 guard gates along the Erie Canal, lock E11, and guard gate 12 are examples that offer the ability to use their heritage value to bring economic value to the areas around them by pairing them with a footbridge, due to their location. These pieces of infrastructure, still performing critical functions to prevent flooding, often fall forgotten and sit in the backdrop. As part of the Reimagine the Canals initiative these historic structures will become a centrepiece, showcasing their heritage value.

Along the canal network also sit many derelict old road bridges. One in the community of Waterloo on Locust Street has been closed for several years, having been through cycles of rebirth before- we looked at how this bridge could again become the centre of the local community.

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