Canal Pedestrian Bridge Draft Report Available

The New York State Thruway Authority/Canal Corporation today announced that copies of the draft environmental assessment for the proposed new pedestrian bridge over the New York State's Erie Canal and the Mohawk River in Amsterdam will be available at various repositories beginning December 3, 2010.

The proposed pedestrian bridge will be the topic of a public hearing at 6 p.m. on Monday, December 20, 2010, in the cafeteria of the Lynch Literacy Academy, 55 Brandt Place, Amsterdam.

Copies of the report will be available for review and copying during business hours at: The offices of the Chief Engineer, New York State Thruway Authority/Canal Corporation, 200 Southern Blvd., Albany; New York State Department of Transportation Region 2, Utica State Office Building, 207 Genesee St.; the New York State Canal Corporation Fonda Shop, 2 South Bridge St.; City of Amsterdam Mayor's Office in City Hall; and the Amsterdam Free Library, 28 Church St.

Thruway Authority engineers will be available for one hour before the start of the December 20 public hearing to discuss the project and answer questions.

Information on the right-of-way acquisition process will be provided by the New York State Department of Transportation regional real estate group, and tentative schedules for right-of-way acquisition and construction will be discussed.

Written statements and other exhibits may be submitted in place of, or in addition to, oral statements made at the hearing. Written statements submitted at the hearing, or mailed and received before January 21, 2011, at the Thruway's Chief Engineer's Office, will be made part of the record.

Further information on the project may be obtained from the NYSTA/CC Project Manager, Richard P. Karis Jr., P.E., New York State Thruway Authority/Canal Corporation, 200 Southern Blvd., Albany, NY 12209, or by calling (518) 471-4378.

Upon prior request to Karis, accommodations will be provided for a sign language interpreter, an assistive listening system, or other special needs.

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The New York State Canal Corporation is a subsidiary of the New York State Thruway Authority. State legislation in 1992 transferred the Canal System from the New York State Department of Transportation to the Thruway Authority. Canal operating and maintenance activities are supported by Thruway toll revenues.

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