Broad Street Bridge (Rochester, New York) Explained

Erie Canal: Second Genesee Aqueduct
Location:Broad St., Rochester, New York
Coordinates:43.1547°N -77.6097°W
Built:1836
Architect:Roberts, Nathan
Added:September 29, 1976
Area:less than 1acres
Refnum:76001228

Erie Canal: Second Genesee Aqueduct, also known as the Broad Street Aqueduct or Broad Street Bridge, is a historic stone aqueduct located at Rochester in Monroe County, New York. It was constructed in 1836–1842 and originally carried the Erie Canal over the Genesee River. The overall length of the aqueduct including the wings and abutments is 800feet. The aqueduct is 70feet wide and has large parapets on either side. It is one of four major aqueducts in the mid-19th century Erie Canal system. In 1927, a roadbed was added to carry automobile traffic and named Broad Street. It also carried a part of the Rochester Subway.[1]

In 2018, a project called Aqueduct Reimagined was announced under the city's ROC the Riverway initiative, which proposes removing the automotive road deck to create a pedestrian space and creating walkway connections to nearby waterfront pathways.[2] An early proposal involved partially re-flooding the former canal and subway bed on the aqueduct with water similar to the Canalside project in Buffalo, NY. An alternate concept moved into community engagement and design phases in 2022.[3]

The aqueduct was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cultural Resource Information System (CRIS) . http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20190404141934/https://cris.parks.ny.gov/ . dead . 2019-04-04 . . Searchable database . 2016-06-01 . Note: This includes Web site: National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Erie Canal: Second Genesee Aqueduct . 2016-06-01 . Cornelia E. Brooke . PDF . May 1975 . and Accompanying three photographs
  2. News: ROC the Riverway. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. 2018-04-02. en.
  3. Web site: About Aqueduct Reimagined . 2022-09-30 . Aqueductreimagined . en.