Canal Corporation Advises of Erie Canal Closure Between Lock E-28B in Newark and Lock 29 in Palmyra

Water levels to be Lowered to Assist in Recovery Effort of Hydraulic Dredge #1

ALBANY, NY (06/15/2009)(readMedia)-- The New York State Canal Corporation today advised the Erie Canal will be closed to navigation between Lock E-28B in Newark and Lock E-29 in Palmyra, beginning at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 16, 2009. It is anticipated that this portion of the Erie Canal will remain closed for at least two days.

The water level in this area of the Erie Canal will be lowered gradually by approximately five feet, between 10:00 p.m. tonight, June 15, 2009, and 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2009.

The Canal Corporation encourages any boaters concerned with the reduced depth to move their vessels to the east past Lock E-28B before 10:00 p.m. tonight, Monday, June 15, 2009.

The Canal Corporation appreciates the public's patience throughout the duration of this recovery operation.

For more information regarding the Canal System, please visit www.nyscanals.gov or call 1-800-4CANAL-4.

-30-

The New York State Thruway Authority/Canal Corporation offers a free email service called TRANSalert to its customers via email or text messaging to inform them of major incidents and emergencies that may affect travel on the Thruway or navigation on the Canal System. To sign up for the Canal TRANSalert service, customers can visit the Corporation's website at www.nyscanals.gov/tas/. To sign-up for Thruway TRANSalerts please visit the Authority's website at www.nysthruway.gov/tas/.