The plan to turn the abandoned Erie Canal Aqueduct into a downtown Rochester attraction is moving forward, following a kickoff announcement on Tuesday. Mayor Malik Evans says this part of the Roc the Riverway initiative will convert the former aqueduct/subway tunnel into a revitalized part of the city’s Genesee River waterfront.
The Broad Street Bridge, the top layer of the aqueduct, will be removed. The remaining original parts of the bridge will be connected to the Riverway Trail system and turned into an outdoor gathering space.
Mayor Evans says a community-driven planning process will decide just what it looks like and how it should be used. The state has committed $9.5 million to the project and it will take about five years to complete.