In 1890's the Erie Canal was enlarged again, but it stillcould not meet the standard needed for shipping. So in 1918 New York Statereplaced the Erie Canal with a new modern canal that could accommodatemuch larger vessels and handle self propelled boats. That year in the 1890'sthe Erie Barge Canal opened. It was an important link to the Great Lakesuntil 1959, in that year the last section of the St. Lawrence Seaway wascompleted, and ocean going ships could travel directly from Atlantic Oceanup the St. Lawrence River and into the Great Lakes. Today the barge canalis used almost exclusively for recreationalboating.