Onondaga Canalways Trail – Phase 2/Segment 3

What was the Challenge?

The challenge of this project was to construct the next crucial segment of the Canalways Trail through several challenging landscapes on the southern shoreline of Onondaga Lake in Syracuse New York.  The available corridor for the trail was limited by the proximity of not only Onondaga Lake, but also an active Honeywell lake cleanup site, multiple active freight lines (CSX & NYSW), and the Syracuse Metropolitan Waste Water Treatment Plant.  The soils throughout the project limits had a high potential to be contaminated and a portion of the trail would be constructed within a NYSDEC Brownfield Cleanup site. Construction of this project took place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

How did Barton & Loguidice provide a solution?

Barton & Loguidice employed several varying trail designs to successfully complete this project. A 10’-0” asphalt trail design was developed for the initial portion of the project adjacent to Onondaga Lake. This trail design incorporated contemporary geosynthetic technologies to reinforce the structural resiliency of the trail in an area with very poor soil stability. In order to traverse the freight lines, B&L designed a 1,125-foot long concrete pedestrian multi-span bridge. The bridge consisted of 5 approach spans and one main span over the train tracks. Following the bridge, the trail design transition back to an asphalt trail within the limits of the NYSDEC Brownfield Cleanup site. Months of coordination were spent with the NYSDEC and federal government to sample, test, and mitigate contaminated soils encountered in the field. Overall, it was B&L’s commitment to this project, our client, and the Syracuse community which drove this project to be completed on-time and on-budget.

Why was the project a success?

This infrastructure project presented a multitude of complexities to the designers at Barton & Loguidice. Not only were the site conditions unfavorable, but there were a staggering number of decision makers involved in the project.  And the project was to be constructed at an accelerated rate during the COVID-19 pandemic.  All of these issues were overcome however, and the project met its deadline.  Moreover, this segment of the Canalways Trail now stands as a defining feature in the City of Syracuse’s skyline.  The concrete pedestrian bridge has quickly become a popular destination.  The team at B&L leveraged their experience and diverse skill set to deliver a great product to the people of CNY.  The trail segment provides connectivity to numerous communities and will be enjoyed for generations to come.