Lake Champlain Seaway
The Lake Champlain Seaway was a
Though supported by business groups in New York and Quebec, it proved economically unfeasible. Prohibitive costs (estimated at $100 million in 1900),[1] opposition from railroads,[2] and the diminishing utility of canal transportation prevented the project from advancing beyond the early planning stages. The Great Depression cut the project's planning budget, while World War II and completion of the St. Lawrence Seaway delayed matters. The growth of road and air transportation reduced the need for a canal, but the project was still under serious consideration as late as 1962.[3]
As proposed, ships would have used a dredged channel in the Hudson River, transferred to an upgraded Champlain Canal, navigated Lake Champlain, traversed an upgraded Chambly Canal and St Ours Canal, and traveled a dredged route up the Richelieu River to Montreal.[1] Today, the seaway's planned route is covered by the Lakes to Locks Passage.
References
- ^ a b c "Champlain route studied as seaway", The New York Times. April 15, 1936. Page 8.
- ^ Special to the New York Times. "Rail men oppose Hudson waterway", The New York Times. November 27, 1936. Page 41.
- ^ Special to the New York Times. "U.S. and Canada set canal study", The New York Times. July 6, 1962. Page 50.