Canalway Trail Construction Advisory

Canalway Trail Rehabilitation between Canastota and Rome in Madison and Oneida Counties

Work began in October, 2009 to rehabilitate a 20-mile Erie Canalway Trail segment in Madison and Oneida Counties. The trail between State Route 13/ Peterboro Street in Canastota and Fort Bull Road/ Erie Canal Village in Rome links to an existing Erie Canalway Trail segment between Dewitt and Canastota, creating a 38-mile bike and hike path along the Old Erie Canal State Park from Dewitt to Rome.

The project features a 10-foot wide crushed limestone surface trail. Informational sign kiosks will be installed at the trailhead in Canastota and at Erie Canal Lock 21. Improvements will also be made to the trail crossing at Lock 21. In addition, a hiker-biker-boater campsite will be installed at Lock 21. The $2.12 million project is being constructed by the New York State Canal Corporation and funded with Federal Transportation Enhancement funds administered by the NYS Department of Transportation (DOT).

Trail users are advised that portions of the Erie Canalway Trail in the project area will be closed during the course of the project to facilitate construction. Trail segments will be constructed and completed in stages in order to minimize impact on trail traffic. Parallel roadways can be used to link trail segments that are open for use. The entire project is scheduled to be completed by October 29, 2010.

The project is being developed in partnership with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, which operates and maintains the Old Erie Canal State Park. Additional partners include Madison and Oneida Counties, the Cities of Oneida and Rome, the Village of Canastota and the Towns of Lenox and Verona.