Skip to main content

Culvert Road Tunnel at the Erie Canal - Medina, New York

Image
By

 


One of the more unique features of the Erie Canal can actually be found underneath the canal. Just east of the Western New York State town of Medina is a road tunnel that goes under the Erie Canal. The Culvert Road Tunnel was originally built in 1823 in preparation of the construction and opening of the canal. However, the tunnel that exists today was rebuilt and widened in 1906 to accommodate the widening of the Erie Canal to the modern State Barge Canal system that we have across New York State.

Because the canal runs along a berm in this section in Orleans County, it made passage between the north and south sides of the canal a tricky endeavor. Elsewhere along the Erie Canal, bridges were constructed to allow for crossing the canal. But because of the berm alongside the canal here, it presented an engineering challenge. The drop from the towpath down to the road is about 20 feet. Because of that drop, any bridge constructed at this point would have to be significantly higher so boats could pass underneath the bridge. Any bridge that tall would also have to begin far beyond each side of the canal to compensate for the berm, or the grade would have to be really steep. Ultimately, going under the canal by way of a culvert became the most practical solution for a crossing.

In order to keep the tunnel at Culvert Road in prime working condition, there is a small stream that drains to a nearby pond, otherwise the tunnel may become filled with water. Sure, water does drip from the roof to the floor of the tunnel on occasion, but the tunnel has held up very well over the years. So well, that Ripley's Believe It Or Not featured the Culvert Road Tunnel in a segment at one time.

You can visit and explore the Culvert Road Tunnel today, or drive through the tunnel as long as your vehicle is under the clearance of 7 feet, 6 inches. The tunnel hosts a one lane road but has sidewalks on both sides, which allows for people to walk through the tunnel if they so choose. It is said that one could also climb up the sides of the tunnel to reach the top and walk along the Erie Canal, as there is a trail that runs alongside the canal. There is a pull-off next on the road next to the tunnel so you can explore and take photos.





How to Get There:



Sources and Links:
Bridgehunter.com - Culvert Road Tunnel
Exploring Upstate - The Medina Culvert – Medina, NY
Low Bridge Productions - The Culvert at Medina
Family Adventures in New York State - Culvert Road Tunnel - Medina, NY
Labels:
Location: 3699 Culvert Rd, Medina, NY 14103, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rep. Sue Myrick's letter to Gov. Easley and Sect. Tippett published in Charlotte Observer

By
US. Representative Sue Myrick's (R-Charlotte) letter to North Carolina's Governor Mike Easley and NC Transportation Secretary Lyndo Tippett was published in the Friday, November 30th edition of the Charlotte Observer . Why are we delaying the completion of 1-485 in Charlotte again? I read in The Charlotte Observer how rising prices of materials are leading to the delay. Why didn't these same rising costs delay the loops in Fayetteville and Wilmington? Why are we building loops in Fayetteville and Wilmington before we complete the one in Charlotte? We were working on the one in Charlotte back when I was mayor. That was 20 years ago! ... Last I looked Charlotte was the largest city in the state. There seems to be no recognition of that fact in Raleigh. No recognition that we are at a standstill with traffic. No recognition that we have a traffic problem. Nor is there any recognition of the fact that the state DOT utterly botched up the southern leg of our yet to be completed ...
Post a Comment
Read more

New River Gorge National Park & Preserve - Sandstone Falls

By
The New River, which runs through New River Gorge National Park & Preserve, is best known for its dramatic rapids and whitewater adventures.  Those features begin at one of the river's widest points: Sandstone Falls. From the Sandstone Falls Boardwalk a look at just a small part of the falls. Though the vertical drop of roughly 20 feet is less than many other well-known waterfalls in the state, the falls' expanse, where the river approaches 1500 feet wide, makes Sandstone Falls impressive.   The Boardwalk Trail leads to a better vantage point of the overall falls. It is a great spot for photography, fishing, or laying out in the sun. Access to the falls is relatively easy: from Hinton, cross the New River on Highway 20, then turn right onto CR 26 and follow New River Road to the Sandstone Falls Parking Area. The Island Loop Trail is a short detour off the Boardwalk Trail and shows a quieter side of the area. At Sandstone Falls, you will find a variety of activities fr...
Post a Comment
Read more

I-90 in Albany, New York and the Berkshire Spur

By
Today's Albany Times Union has a segment in their weekly Getting There? column that explains some of the history behind how I-90 is designated in the Albany, NY area as well as the Berkshire Spur. The long and short of the article was that I-90 was originally designated on the unsigned portion of the Berkshire Spur, but as free I-90 was built, the designation was moved onto the free portion of road. Additionally, there were talks in 1999 between state and federal officials about the possibility of moving I-90 back onto the unsigned portion of the Berkshire Spur, while extending I-88 onto what we know as free I-90. There would have also had been an I-88/I-90 multiplex between Rotterdam and Albany as a result. http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=916307
Post a Comment
Read more