Author Topic: An Historical Reference to Erie Canal Embankment Safety Issues  (Read 98 times)

Michael Caswell

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Doug K

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The pictures say it all... and yes it can happen again, right here at the same place. It's now a High Hazard Earthen Embankment covered with unsafe vegetation.

Great Article, and some great old pictures what show construction of the Great Embankment canal sluiceway, lining the embankment 80 feet up over the surrounding area.



I wonder if this is how these breaches ended up getting repaired? Maybe they used steam shovels from Erie to replace all the earth and then pound the steel plating support walls into place? Here's an advertisement from 1927 when Erie Steam merged with Bacyrus to become the "earth mover of choice" for many canal projects including the NYS Barge and Panama Canals



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucyrus-Erie

And for those thinking it can't happen now, with the "new canal"... take a look here, it's a Canal Breach in Albion NY from 2012. That embankment breach shutdown the canal there for 25 miles and about 3 months:

https://www.timesunion.com/news/slideshow/Erie-Canal-breach-46875.php

Michael Caswell

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Learn all about one of the largest Erie Canal Embankments in Pittsford, and how many times it has collapsed in the past.


https://eriecanalvideos.com/the-great-embankment/
« Last Edit: February 04, 2022, 07:38:55 am by Doug K »