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For Immediate Release:
03/27/19

Contact:
Steven Gosset | Steven.Gosset@nypa.gov
Media Relations | (914) 390-8192


CANAL BOARD APPROVES CONTRACT TO EXPAND CHAMPLAIN CANALWAY TRAIL


Project will Result in New 6.3-Mile Segment in Washington County


WHITE PLAINS—The New York State Canal Corporation Board of Directors has approved a $6.7 million contract to build a new segment of the Champlain Canalway Trail and bring the State a step closer toward completing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Empire State Trail initiative to create the nation’s largest multi-use state trail network.

The project in Washington County will construct a 6.3-mile segment of the Canalway Trail that will link New Swamp Road in Kingsbury with Champlain Canal Lock C-9 and an already-existing stretch of trail north of Baldwin Corners Road in Fort Ann.

“This project not only serves as a crucial component of the Empire State Trail, but will also enable people to experience the beauty and serenity of the Champlain Canalway Trail,” said Brian U. Stratton, Canal Corporation director. “The trail will be a major recreational asset in the region and is poised to boost the local economy as more hikers and bikers use the trail.”

The contract was awarded to James H. Maloy Inc. of Loudonville following a competitive bidding process. An interim $1.4 million award had been made in February, to enable the contractor to mobilize and meet the projected completion date of Nov. 20, 2020. The interim award is included in the amount approved by the canal board.

The Champlain Canalway Trail is part of the northern section of the 750-mile Empire State Trail, running from New York City to the Canadian Border. The Empire trail, which is scheduled to be finished by the end of next year, also includes the 363-mile Erie Canalway Trail, running from Albany to Buffalo.

“This new six-mile off-road trail will create an exciting destination for hikers, bikers and outdoor recreation enthusiasts, and is a vital link in the regional Empire State Trail and Champlain Canalway Trail network,” said Andy Beers, Empire State Trail director.

Construction activities will include:

  • Building of a 10-foot-wide shared-use path
  • Erosion and sediment control
  • Removal of trees and stumps
  • Paving existing parking lots
  • Installing picnic tables, benches and bike racks

About the New York State Canal Corporation

New York’s canal system includes four historic canals: the Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca. Spanning 524 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. In 2019, New York will mark the 200th anniversary of the first trip taken on the Erie Canal, from Rome to Utica.

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