Near the city of Medina in Western New York is an interesting piece of Erie Canal history, a road that goes UNDER the canal. While there are numerous bridges OVER the canal, Culvert Road, to this day, is the only one that goes UNDER the canal!
The Erie Canal was called the Eighth Wonder of the World in 1825, when it was completed. Construction began on July 4, 1817 and remember, it was dug by hand! It was originally 7 feet deep and 40 feet wide, 363 miles long between Albany and Buffalo. There were 83 locks (57 on today's canal) because the canal rises 568 feet between the Hudson River and Lake Erie. The tunnel was built in 1823 and was even moved when the course of the canal was changed! It was also lengthened (twice!) when the canal was widened.
It's a real experience to drive through it, when you remember there are tons of water above you and you see the seepage through the stones in the curved ceiling. Gulp. Just remember, that tunnel has been there since before your great-great-grandfather drove horses through there - it ain't goin' anyplace!
Stop on the north end of the tunnel, there's a small parking area there. With any luck at all, a vehicle will come along and go through the tunnel. That way, you'll be able to experience the weird acoustics the tunnel provides.
Sound carries through the tunnel as if there were a microphone setup in there. The day I visited, I laughed when I saw a guy kneeling to take a picture with his cell phone. I said, "I'd better get out of the way," and as I stepped to the side of the portal, he waved to me!
A few seconds later, I heard footsteps on gravel. I didn't hear a car pull up, so I turned to look only there was no one there! I walked back to the portal of the tunnel, only to see the guy on the other end walking to his car. That was the source of the mystery footsteps and I was mostly relieved to learn I wasn't in a Steven King novel.
A car going through from your end of the tunnel sounds like a train coming at you from the other end of the tunnel!
Oh, one more thing. The tunnel was featured in Ripley's Believe It Or Not for being the only bridge UNDER the Erie Canal.
If you're ever in Western New York, take a drive on Culvert Road between NY 31 and Ridge Road. The Medina Tunnel must be experienced, Believe It Or Not! read more