Blackrock Lock Research Paper

In 1957, over 4.6 million tons of freight passed through the Blackrock Lock on its way to and from Buffalo. By allowing ships a more navigable route from the Western terminus of the Erie Canal to the city of Buffalo, the Blackrock Canal helped the booming steel industry of Buffalo grow. Originally constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers, today the lock and canal are still operated and maintained by the same men and women. Over the course of the past century the canal and lock have undergone multiple rehabilitation projects led by the Army Corps of Engineers. The most recent of these rehabilitation projects occurred in the 1990s which saw the refurbishing of the lock houses, installation of safety railings and fences, as well as the widening