Projects may run July through November

Residents and visitors of Parma will have to adjust to a few detours this upcoming construction season as the county will erect new bridges on Peck and Ogden-Parma Town Line roads.

The Monroe County Department of Transportation plans to replace the bridges which span across Salmon and Northrup Creek in these areas. Construction on both projects should begin in July and last about four months, department officials said.

"They have a life span of 50 years and they have outlived their use," said Bo Mansouri, county bridge engineer.

The Department of Transportation is expected to solicit construction bids for projects later this month, Mansouri said, and the projects should run through the end of construction season in November. The bridges are funded through the 2001 County Capital Improvement Program budget.

Across Northrup Creek

During construction of the Peck Road bridge, a proposed detour plan will use Parma Corners Hilton Road (NY Rt. 259), Parma Center Road (NY Rt. 18), and Manitou Road (NY Rt. 261). The proposed detour, about 2.5 miles long, will be used during the duration of the project, said Parma Supervisor Rick Lemcke.

"What they're proposing is a far better bridge," Lemcke said. "The bridge definitely needs replacement. We're prolonging the inevitable if we postponed it."

The plan for Northrup Creek, which is estimated to cost $510,000, will replace the current bridge, which was constructed in 1928. The new pre-cast concrete bridge is expected to widen the shoulder by six feet for pedestrian crossings, and will not require any additional right-of-way, according to the plans.

A public forum was held in January to alert residents of the project and yield concerns. So far, Lemcke said, people seem to understand the need for the replacement. "It hasn't drawn any controversy," Lemcke added.

Across Salmon Creek

The replacement of the Ogden-Parma Town Line Road Bridge, spanning Salmon Creek, should begin in late July, Mansouri said. The current bridge was constructed in 1937.

The proposed detour, about two miles long, includes traveling on Washington Street to Canal Road to Gallup Road, Mansouri said.

Last month, the county held a public forum for residents to address the project. The cost of the new bridge is estimated at $412,000.

The new concrete bridge will span 39 feet, and will offer a wider shoulder of six feet. Also, existing travel lanes will widen to 11 feet each. The county plans to improve sight distance on the thoroughfare by reducing the size of the hill on the northwest corner of the bridge.

According to Mansouri, about 760 cars travel on Ogden-Parma Town Line Road each day, while about 2,300 vehicles travel on Peck Road. "For a rural setting, they take more traffic than normal," Mansouri explained.

To make the transition between bridges smoother for residents, he suggests using the designated detour plans and recommends avoiding short cuts through residential areas. Local traffic near the bridges will be maintained, Mansouri said. "We just ask for the patience of the residents," he added.