Four years and four months of constant requests, trips to Albany, more requests and a village-wide crusade via a “Reader’s Digest” contest, with the help of Senator Chuck Schumer and his staff, the CSX railroad bridge in the Village of Spencerport as well as the ones on Manitou Road and Washington Street are slated for removal.
CP Ward Inc., hired by CSX, has obtained all necessary permits and plans to begin removing the bridge on Union Street on April 15, and expects to finish it by April 20. CP Ward has set out detour signs to give area residents advance notice.
Any delivery trucks that usually use Route 259 are encouraged to enter the village via Trimmer Road and the DPW Road which turns into West Avenue for that week. The gate will be open.
I was beginning to doubt whether it would ever happen and as I watched two young boys riding bikes across recently, I prayed that they would make it across before going through the deck. The bridge has been unstable for some time and we are very lucky no one has been hurt there.
I would like to ask that our residents and neighbors who drive this portion of Union Street to go to work or shop to be patient during the removal. It will be worth it when it is down, both for safety reasons and aesthetics. Many people have had questions as to whether the side concrete walls will remain. They will and the Village will be responsible for fixing and maintaining them on Union Street. The town will maintain the two other sites. There will also be wrought iron safety fences at the top to protect walkers and bikers who currently use it to cross Union by bridge. It will be a nice entrance to our Business District and canal walk areas.
A very big thank you to all who took part in the contest and to those who wrote letters and cheered us on.
Your support kept us at it and once again shows that the Spencerport community truly is Someplace Special.
