by Mike Zale, Ogden Town Supervisor
After more than 550 days of frustration and stalled progress, I’m pleased to share that the Gillett Road Bridge is finally on its way to being reopened. Thanks to a collaborative and persistent effort, CSX has agreed to repair the overpass – and construction is already underway.
The closure of the CSX Gillett Road Overpass Bridge has disrupted daily life for residents, complicated emergency response routes, and caused understandable frustration throughout our community.
Despite repeated outreach, CSX remained silent for months. During that time, we worked with our county, state, and federal partners to pursue various grant opportunities that would have allowed us to remove the bridge entirely and dedicate the roadway back to Monroe County. Unfortunately, the attempt to piece-meal this together while avoiding the unresolved question of bridge ownership simply didn’t work – and progress stalled.
That changed on June 3, when we held a joint press conference with the Ogden Police Department, Spencerport Fire District, Gates Volunteer Ambulance, Town Board, and Village of Spencerport to demand accountability from CSX. The message was clear: public safety and community connectivity cannot wait.
Since that press conference, we’ve kept the pressure on. Our formal letter to CSX was met with a response – and a commitment to resume conversations. I know this was met with some skepticism, and rightfully so based on what has transpired over the past year-and-a-half or so. But over the past two weeks, I’ve been in direct contact with a CSX affiliate from Winn Construction, working to find a solution that works for Ogden.
I am pleased to announce that our efforts have led to a successful outcome on multiple fronts. First, Winn Construction has now begun major repairs to the CSX Bridge. These repairs won’t take years – they’ll take weeks. Once complete, the bridge will be inspected by the state and county to ensure it meets all safety standards before it officially reopens.
Second, and almost just as important, CSX has agreed to assume full responsibility for the bridge’s ongoing maintenance – a major step forward in ensuring this issue doesn’t repeat itself in the future.
This is a real win for the Town of Ogden. Our advocacy has paid off, and our community’s voice has been heard. Thank you for standing with us to amplify that voice!
I want to personally thank the first responders and stakeholders in the Ogden Police Department, Gates Ambulance, and Spencerport Fire for standing with me throughout this effort. I also want to extend my sincere thanks to County Executive Adam Bello and the county’s legal department for stepping in with key support, especially with their demand letter that added necessary legal pressure.
I’m also grateful to our own Ogden Town Board members – I appreciate your support in taking a more strategic and collaborative approach directly with CSX. To County Legislator Robert Colby for his continued involvement and advocacy on behalf of Ogden. And to Congressman Joe Morelle who was one of the first people to answer my phone call and take this situation seriously. This outcome is a testament to what can be accomplished when local and county partners work together toward a shared goal.
Together, we’ve shown that persistence, unity, and clear communication can lead to real results. The CSX Gillett Road Overpass Bridge is coming back – and with it, a stronger and more connected community.
