Work Starts on Salamanca Bridge
By Matthew Roberts
Director of Operations
SALAMANCA - Construction has begun to reopen the Center Street Bridge, thanks to a $200,000 state grant secured by Senator Catharine Young.
The grant matches more than $800,000 in federal funds and nearly $30,000 in City money to fix the badly-deterioriated structure that serves as a connector within Salamanca.
“The great news is that we expect to open for traffic around August 24th, unless something unforeseen happens. It should be completed before Labor Day and the beginning of the school year,” said Senator Young. “While the reopened bridge will be alternating, one-way traffic under 15 tons, it will accommodate school buses and some emergency vehicles. There will still be some inconvenience, but it will be minor compared to the situation now.”
“I would like to thank everyone who had a role in expediting the process of coming to an agreement on the repairs to the Route 353 Bridge and also on moving up the replacement date of the bridge,” said Mayor Jeffrey L. Pond. “And a special thanks to Senator Young for obtaining the funds for a majority of the City’s 20 percent required amount. It is imperative to the residents of Salamanca to have the bridge re-opened as soon as possible.”
Originally the bridge was slated to be replaced starting in 2011. Senator Young and the NYS Department of Transportation (DOT) successfully pushed to move up the schedule so that the project will be let in September of 2009. Construction will begin in the Spring of 2010.
“The bridge being out of commission has caused hardships for the entire region. Emergency services, school bus transportation and every day travel for residents have been disrupted. The detour adds several miles to anyone who needs to get across town. With skyrocketing gas prices, it is difficult for people to afford. It is putting a heavy strain on family budgets.
“That’s why everyone is working hard to make the repairs as quickly as possible and I’m glad to help,” she said.
“All parties involved have been extraordinarily cooperative and helpful. The Seneca Nation expedited an agreement with the State so work can begin, the DOT has done a yeoman’s job, and the City has strived to get things moving,” she said.
Senator Young said good communication has been the key to success.
“I’ve heard from all entities, including the Salamanca School District. They were having a tough time with their school bus fuel bills, so I secured an additional $35,000 in state aid to save local taxpayers from shouldering the added costs,” she said.
The Center Street Bridge was closed in January by the DOT after they conducted structural surveys of all bridges across New York. Center Street Bridge was the second bridge to close in Salamanca. The West State Street Bridge has been closed since December 2005 due to earlier inspections that found severe structural deterioration.
“It’s been a real headache and we are also working to have the West State Street Bridge completed by 2010,” she said.
“My hat is off to everyone who has worked so hard to get positive results,” Senator Young concluded.
Director of Operations
SALAMANCA - Construction has begun to reopen the Center Street Bridge, thanks to a $200,000 state grant secured by Senator Catharine Young.
The grant matches more than $800,000 in federal funds and nearly $30,000 in City money to fix the badly-deterioriated structure that serves as a connector within Salamanca.
“The great news is that we expect to open for traffic around August 24th, unless something unforeseen happens. It should be completed before Labor Day and the beginning of the school year,” said Senator Young. “While the reopened bridge will be alternating, one-way traffic under 15 tons, it will accommodate school buses and some emergency vehicles. There will still be some inconvenience, but it will be minor compared to the situation now.”
“I would like to thank everyone who had a role in expediting the process of coming to an agreement on the repairs to the Route 353 Bridge and also on moving up the replacement date of the bridge,” said Mayor Jeffrey L. Pond. “And a special thanks to Senator Young for obtaining the funds for a majority of the City’s 20 percent required amount. It is imperative to the residents of Salamanca to have the bridge re-opened as soon as possible.”
Originally the bridge was slated to be replaced starting in 2011. Senator Young and the NYS Department of Transportation (DOT) successfully pushed to move up the schedule so that the project will be let in September of 2009. Construction will begin in the Spring of 2010.
“The bridge being out of commission has caused hardships for the entire region. Emergency services, school bus transportation and every day travel for residents have been disrupted. The detour adds several miles to anyone who needs to get across town. With skyrocketing gas prices, it is difficult for people to afford. It is putting a heavy strain on family budgets.
“That’s why everyone is working hard to make the repairs as quickly as possible and I’m glad to help,” she said.
“All parties involved have been extraordinarily cooperative and helpful. The Seneca Nation expedited an agreement with the State so work can begin, the DOT has done a yeoman’s job, and the City has strived to get things moving,” she said.
Senator Young said good communication has been the key to success.
“I’ve heard from all entities, including the Salamanca School District. They were having a tough time with their school bus fuel bills, so I secured an additional $35,000 in state aid to save local taxpayers from shouldering the added costs,” she said.
The Center Street Bridge was closed in January by the DOT after they conducted structural surveys of all bridges across New York. Center Street Bridge was the second bridge to close in Salamanca. The West State Street Bridge has been closed since December 2005 due to earlier inspections that found severe structural deterioration.
“It’s been a real headache and we are also working to have the West State Street Bridge completed by 2010,” she said.
“My hat is off to everyone who has worked so hard to get positive results,” Senator Young concluded.
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