Erie Canal: Second Genesee Aqueduct | |
 Broad Street Bridge, 2001 | |
   | |
| Location | Broad St.,Rochester, New York |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 43°9′17″N77°36′35″W / 43.15472°N 77.60972°W /43.15472; -77.60972 |
| Area | less than 1 acre (4,000 m2) |
| Built | 1836 |
| Architect | Roberts, Nathan |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001228[1] |
| Added to NRHP | September 29, 1976 |
Erie Canal: Second Genesee Aqueduct, also known as the Broad Street Aqueduct orBroad Street Bridge, is a historic stoneaqueduct located atRochester inMonroe County, New York. It was constructed in 1836–1842 and originally carried theErie Canal over theGenesee River. The overall length of the aqueduct including the wings and abutments is 800 feet (240 m). The aqueduct is 70 feet (21 m) wide and has largeparapets 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 theRochester Subway.[2]
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.[3] An early proposal involved partially re-flooding the former canal and subway bed on the aqueduct with water similar to theCanalside project inBuffalo, NY. The Re-watering concept was the recipient of numerous planning accolades, including the prestigious diamond award for outstanding community engagement and planning by the New York State Council of Consulting Engineers and the American Institute of Architects. In 2009, The Re-watering concept won the “Best New Idea for Downtown Development” by City Magazine.
The Re-watering concept included comprehensive economic analysis that projected a significant rate of return and community benefit. The Re-watering concept moved forward in 2010 with the completion of a draft environmental impact statement.
In 2010, The City of Rochester under newly elected Mayor Lovely Warren elected to set-aside the Re-watering concept as the City struggled to identify funding sources and expressed concern about maintaining water features throughout the City.
An alternate concept moved into community engagement and design phases in 2022.[4]
The aqueduct was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 1976.[1]
