Azar Design Co provided Civil & Structural Engineering, Environmental, Landscape Architecture, and Surveying services for a one-mile section of the Empire State Trail, part of the Canalway Trail system from Mohawk to Ilion, developed for the NYS Thruway Authority, Canal Design Bureau.

Our team prepared detailed bid-ready plans for a 10-foot-wide trail, incorporating amenities such as benches, kiosks, landscaping, and a facility near the marina. The scope also included the design of a pedestrian bridge spanning a large creek, stormwater management and drainage solutions near existing wetlands, and ADA-compliant features for the trail.

Throughout the project, multiple funding issues led to changes in scope, requiring our team to adapt. We conducted updated surveys and wetland delineations, re-inspected structures, and converted the project from metric to English units. Additionally, the discovery of a capped landfill and extensive wetland areas necessitated adjustments to the trail alignment to minimize excavation and environmental impact.