§ 68. Bridges spanning canal channels. 1. When a bridge spanning the
Oswego canal or that portion of the Erie canal between the Hudson river
and its junction with the Oswego canal, is to be reconstructed, or a new
bridge is to be built over such sections of the canal system, such
reconstructed or new bridge shall be so built as to provide a clear
passageway between the bottom clearance line of the bridge, if of the
fixed type, or the bottom clearance line when raised, if of the movable
type, and the surface of the water at its highest navigable stage of not
less than twenty feet. When a bridge spanning the Champlain canal, the
Cayuga and Seneca canals, or that portion of the Erie canal westerly of
Three Rivers is to be reconstructed or a new bridge is to be built over
such sections of the canal system, such reconstructed or new bridge
shall be so built as to provide a clear passageway between the bottom
clearance line of the bridge, if of the fixed type, or the bottom
clearance line when raised, if of the movable type, and the surface of
the water at its highest navigable stage, of not less than fifteen and
one-half feet. The commissioner of transportation may, however, if in
his judgment the additional cost is not unreasonable, require that such
bridges be reconstructed or constructed to provide a clearance of not
less than twenty feet or that the substructure of such bridge be so
constructed that the superstructure may be raised to provide a clearance
of twenty feet without rebuilding the foundation of said substructure.

2. The provisions of subdivision one of this section shall not apply
to the reconstruction of the State Street bridge, Seneca Street bridge
and the Buffalo Street bridge, all over the Cayuga inlet in the city of
Ithaca, county of Tompkins.