MCLS Home | Rochester Images | Pathfinders | A Tour Around Rochester on the Erie Canal

The Canal Crossings

See more information about this image. Then browse or search in the image catalog, or click on "Exit" at the upper right of any page in the catalog to get back to this page.	Trolleys, bikes, pedestrians — all traffic, in fact — had to cross the canal on one of the many bridges throughout the city. Boats lined up either waiting to unload near the Exchange Street boat basin, or waiting for a bridge to lift up or swing out of the way so they could pass through.
There was a canal bridge about every quarter mile, and in the center of the city they were often closer than that. Delays were common, both for people and boats, especially if the bridge operator could not be found or if bridge machinery broke.	See more information about this image. Then browse or search in the image catalog, or click on "Exit" at the upper right of any page in the catalog to get back to this page.
See more information about this image. Then browse or search in the image catalog, or click on "Exit" at the upper right of any page in the catalog to get back to this page.	Because the bridges created many dangers and delays, the city's residents were happy to see the canal moved out of downtown and the bridges replaced by street paving.
At the same time, the canal aqueduct over the river was conveniently converted into a bridge and the canal bed was paved. Today, this is Broad Street.	See more information about this image. Then browse or search in the image catalog, or click on "Exit" at the upper right of any page in the catalog to get back to this page.