Watervliet Side Cut Locks, also known as the West Troy Side Cut Locks and "Double Locks," is a historic set of
locks for the
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal is a historic canal in upstate New York that runs east-west between the Hudson River and Lake Erie. Completed in 1825, the canal was the first navigable waterway connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, vastly reducing t ...
located at
Watervliet in
Albany County, New York
Albany County ( ) is a county in the state of New York, United States. Its northern border is formed by the Mohawk River, at its confluence with the Hudson River, which is to the east. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 3 ...
.
The side cut locks connected the Erie Canal to the Hudson River to allow for simplified access from Troy. They initially consisted of a lock at the
Erie Canal (at about the modern 23rd Street), and a lock at the Hudson River.
During the subsequent enlargement of the canal, the original lock at the canal and 23rd Street was doubled, and a new pair of locks were built gating to the Hudson River (while at the same time the general area was reconfigured.)
The lock walls and sea wall are constructed of cut
limestone
Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...
blocks.
[ ''See also:'' ]
It was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
in 1971.
The remains of the locks for the Hudson River end are buried under I 787 and the northbound exit ramp for 23rd Street.
The ruins of the locks are in good condition but have been buried to protect them and
are not accessible
Originally, a weigh lock was located where the side-cut met the Erie Canal, but this was subsequently replaced by a new
weigh lock a short distance further north
References
Erie Canal parks, trails, and historic sites
Industrial buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in New York (state)
Transportation buildings and structures in Albany County, New York
National Register of Historic Places in Albany County, New York
Watervliet, New York
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