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Nine Mile Aqueduct Restoration

Plans are well underway to restore our 1844 Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct which is on the National Registry of Historic Sites. An aqueduct is a water-filled bridge that carries canal boats over rivers, streams or valleys. It provided a way for the first enlargement of the Erie Canal to be carried over Nine Mile Creek. This 144 foot waterway is listed as the smallest of the larger aqueducts. Four stone arches made of fine Onondaga limestone quarried form Split Rock supported the towpath. When restoration is complete, it will be the only restored navigable aqueduct in New York State. Of the 32 original aqueducts on the First Enlargement, only about seven remain intact.

Downstream from the present First Enlargement Aqueduct, can be found the remains of the 1820 Clinton's Ditch Aqueduct with an adjacent lock. Two stone arches supported the 120 foot water bridge. This area has been cleared and kiosks interpret the site.

The Restoration Continues! – June 2009
Placing the West floor of the Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct.

Click photos below to view at larger size.

Blue crane on glulam floor boards halfway across Aqueduct. Total length is 144 ft. Air view by Bob Reece.

Main lifting crane on upper left. Floorboards on left being placed on main support timbers. Note wall posts. Air view by Bob Reece.

Lowering older, original crane

Lowering older, original crane used by Vector Construction Co. Note wall posts.

Lowering bundled glulam floor beams onto supports.

Vector Construction Co. original blue crane lifting 800 lb. floor boards.

Lowering glulam floor board. Floor will be caulked and lagged into place.

 

The Restoration Continues! – April 2009
Placing the West floor of the Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct.

Click photos below to view at larger size.

Placing floor beams

Lowering a beam into place.

Positioning beam

Positioning beam – note North wall support beams.

View of Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct

Overall view of the West end of Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct.

Mid-point of Aqueduct piers

Close-up of beams at mid-point of Aqueduct piers. Note roller top left used to slide the beams to eastern section.

Support timbers

Support timbers – made of southern yellow pine – 72 ft. long, 8 inches wide and 18 inches high.

Placing the main beams

Placing the main beams – note wall support posts on the South side.

Let the Restoration Begin! – October 2008
Clearing Nine Mile Creek at the Aqueduct site

Click photos below to view at larger size.

Heavy Machinery on bank of Nine Mile Creek Clearing Nine Mile Creek
Clearing Nine Mile Creek Clearing Nine Mile Creek
Clearing NIne Mile Creek  
   

 

  
 

The Board of Directors is happy to announce that we opened the bids for the Aqueduct Restoration Project on Tuesday, August 19, at the Camillus Town Hall.

We are pleased to have a bidder that will fit into our budget. Everthing is in preliminary stages. More information will be made available when the contractor has been selected and we are ready for a party!

 
 
 
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Erie Canal Park • 5750 Devoe Road, Camillus, NY 13031 • Phone: 315-488-3409