FRANKFORT, N.Y. -- The New York State Canal Corporation is hard at work on the Erie Canal doing winter maintenance.
The canal corporation does this work in the winter to cause a minimal disturbance to boaters during the summer months.
The winter season is a busy season for crews to perform this work.
At Lock E-19 in Schuyler Wednesday, crews are working to remove a valve.
Crews are redoing electrical systems on the lock and putting in infrastructure to make way for better hydraulics as part of the overhaul.
“Now we're going to remove the valve frame along with the valve itself, bring it out, have it sandblasted, repainted and refurbished, so it's nice and tight for the season ahead,” said Tom Anglin, the Section 4 superintendent.
The hydraulics at the lock are being upgraded from what was used back in the 1960s – Lock 16 to 22.