The first bridge across the canal in Lockport was located a the extreme eastern end of the Big Bridge. It was a narrow log bridge, only wide enough for one way traffic, with a log on either side for guard rails. Called the "Main Street Bridge", it was Lockport only bridge spanning the Canal which was forty feet wide at the time.
During 1843, when the first enlargement of the Erie Canal was in progress, another wooden bridge, 105 feet wide, was built to carry Main Street traffic across the canal. Strangely enough, this wooden "Big Bridge: or "Main Street Bridge" was built west of the direct line of Main Street. By 1851, a portion of the bridge was used as a market place.
The Current "Big Bridge" is one of the widest bridges in the world and represents a tremendous engineering achievement when it was completed in 1914.
Sidebar on the right
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
was a painter, sculptor, and an engineer and scientist. He is especially remembered for his painting of the Mona Lisa. His methods for canalization is still in practice today. He also developed the lock system for canals.
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