For Immediate Release: 9/15/2016
Contact: Shane Mahar | shane.mahar@thruway.ny.gov
Office of Media Relations and Communications | (518) 471-5300
CANAL CORPORATION ANNOUNCES INSTALLATION OF EIGHT SAFETY LADDERS ON THE ERIE CANAL IN FAIRPORT
Ladders Installed Following Governor Cuomo’s Capital for a Day Event Last Summer
The Canal Corporation today announced the successful installation of eight safety ladders along the Erie Canal wall in Fairport. As one of Governor Cuomo’s “Capital for a Day” initiatives in the Finger Lakes Region last summer, the $84,000 project will further improve Canal safety during navigation season.
“The Erie Canal in Fairport sees a high volume of visitors each year, and the installation of eight safety ladders between the Main Street Lift Bridge and the Parker Street Bridge will help give patrons of this corridor peace of mind,” said New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton. “The Canal system is a major economic engine that drives upstate tourism and these ladders reflect Governor Cuomo’s commitment to providing the safest and most reliable amenities for New Yorkers and visitors alike.”
At the direction of Governor Cuomo and with the support of Fairport Mayor Frederick May, the ladders, which are fixed structures, have been installed as a precautionary measure to help residents and visitors who may accidentally fall into the Canal. As a major retail corridor featuring numerous shops and restaurants, this area is home to the annual Fairport Canal Days which attracts more than 200,000 visitors each year. Four ladders were installed on the north side of the Canal and four ladders were installed on the south side of the Canal. The work was contracted by Keeler Construction Co., Inc. from Albion, NY.
The safety ladder installation on the Erie Canal demonstrates the continued commitment to preserve and maintain one of the New York State’s most significant and historical engineering achievements.
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New York’s Canal system includes four historic canals: the Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca. Spanning more than 500 miles, the waterway links the Hudson River with the Great Lakes, the Finger Lakes and Lake Champlain. The canals form the backbone of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor and connect hundreds of unique and historic communities. The Erie Canalway Trail is a multi-use trail, designed to accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists, and cross-country skiers. More than three-quarters of the 365-mile Canalway Trail from Albany to Buffalo is now a dedicated off-road trail, much of it along the canal’s former towpath. Together the canals and trail create a world-class recreationway that is a vibrant, scenic and unique New York resource.
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