The Schoharie Creek Bypass

The Schoharie Creek Bypass. Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site. Frequent flooding of the Schoharie Creek at the original crossing of the Erie Canal often backed up traffic for miles and impacted profits. When the canal was enlarged, an aqueduct over the creek was designed in part by renowned engineer John B. Jervis and built by contractor Otis Eddy between 1839 and 1841. Noted at the time as one of the canal's most consequential improvements, the aqueduct operated from 1845 to 1916. Over the next few decades, structural weaknesses caused one of the fourteen arches to collapse, and the Army Corps of Engineers removed four more to prevent the buildup of damaging ice flows in spring. When additional arches collapsed in 1977, attempts were made to stabilize what remained, which held until another arch collapsed in 1998., “This is the first place of danger I have yet observed. The creek is about thirty yards wide at this place, and is crossed by means of ropes stretched across the stream, which ropes are your only security; should they give way, you must inevitably go down the current and pass over a dam immediately below, of several feet perpendicular descent. In times of a freshet it is very dangerous.” Notes on a tour through the western part of the state of New York, attributed to Michael H. Jenks, 1829. Library of Congress, Historic Appearance of the Aqueduct , Masonry arches spanning an average of thirty-nine feet supported the tow path. Stone piers held the timber trough that carried the water of the enlarged Erie Canal over the creek, providing a forty-foot-wide and seven-foot-deep boat channel. The trough was removed when the aqueduct stopped service in 1916. , Preservation of the Schoharie Creek Aqueduct (extended and colorized), J. Thomas Ryan, 1980. Association for Preservation Technology International, To stabilize what remains, New York State Parks placed an anchor at the end of the easternmost pier in 2023. This anchor or thrust block, prevents shifting and provides counter pressure outward through the remaining structure. Regrouted masonry stops further damage from the cycle of freezing and thawing water. Protections were also added to the foundation to help stop further deterioration., [ Photo Captions ] , Top: Northeast end viewed from west side. , Bottom: Children fishing at Schoharie Aqueduct, ca. 1950.