Construction began Monday on the Clinton Avenue ramp project called the Albany Skyway.

After years of planning, the ramp will be turned into a skyway that will connect downtown Albany to the Corning Preserve and the Hudson River.

“It’s something that doesn’t exist in the area, and it's also an access point to the Hudson River," Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said. "With the bike trail, you can jump on and be in Troy, or along the Mohawk River, or heading down to the rail trail. This is going to be another connection that is really going to help us to envision that we are a river city.”

Sheehan says not only will the skyway benefit the downtown area, it will help out other areas, like Arbor Hill, by giving local business owners another area to show off their goods.

What You Need To Know

  • Construction began Monday morning on the Albany Skyway project

  • The goal is to connect the city to the Hudson River

  • It's expected to be completed by late 2021

“I really see an opportunity, particularly with minority-owned businesses, to be able to have more space, new space, giving entrepreneurs and local business owners an opportunity to occupy that space and demonstrate whatever their new business ideas are," the mayor said.

The skyway could also generate new discussion on the future of New York State Route 787.

“We need to start now in thinking what we want 787 to look like, 20 or 30 years from now, so this is an opportunity to do that,” Sheehan added.