For Immediate Release:
09/17/19
Contact:
Steven Gosset
| Steven.Gosset@nypa.gov
Media Relations | (914) 390-8192
CANAL CORPORATION OPENS NEW SECTION OF ERIE CANALWAY TRAIL IN MOHAWK VALLEY
Trail Addition in Herkimer County Will Help Complete Governor Cuomo’s 750-Mile Empire State Trail Initiative
GERMAN FLATTS---The New York State Canal Corporation has opened a new section of the Erie Canalway Trail in the Mohawk Valley that will fill a crucial trail gap in the region as well as bring Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Empire State Trail network closer to completion.
The new section, which cost $5.4 million, runs in Herkimer County from Fort Herkimer Church at German Flatts Town Park on Route 55 to Erie Canal Lock E-18 in German Flatts.
“As more portions of the Erie Canalway Trail are finished, more people will have the opportunity to experience what makes it special,” said Brian U. Stratton, Canal Corporation director. “For cyclists, hikers and joggers, the trail is another reason to make the Mohawk Valley a destination.”
The Erie Canalway Trail is currently about 85 percent complete. Running from Albany to Buffalo, it is a key component of Governor Cuomo’s 750-mile Empire State Trail, which will be the nation’s largest state network of multi-use trails. It is scheduled for completion late next year.
“Having a dedicated trail rather than having to walk or ride along a busy state highway will encourage more trail use,” said Andy Beers, Empire State Trail director. “As more of these sections are completed, people will have the opportunity for a more scenic ride, but can also experience what makes the Canal System a special place to be.”
During construction on the 10-foot-wide asphalt path, railing was installed on the trail, along with storm pipes and culverts for drainage. Crews also installed concrete pads to accommodate benches, interpretive signs, picnic tables, grills and bike racks. New trees and shrubs were planted and the access road and parking area for Lock E-18 were improved.
The project complements another $2.1 million trail project now underway in Herkimer County, to connect Lock E-18 to Route 167 in Little Falls. It is scheduled for completion in September 2020 and will result in a 20-mile stretch of new Erie Canalway Trail in the Mohawk Valley.
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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