The lift bridge carrying Route 259 (Union Street) over the Erie Canal in Spencerport opened to vehicular traffic on the evening of Friday, November 20, following 16 months of construction, which required the bridge to be raised and accessible for boat traffic only. The bridge, which was originally constructed in 1914, is one of two bridges currently under rehabilitation as part of a larger initiative to restore and preserve the state’s historic canal structures.
“Lift bridges are iconic structures over the Erie Canal in Western New York that connect canalside communities over the historic waterway,” said Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton. “The Canal Corporation is proud to collaborate with the Department of Transportation on this project as it restores a critical transportation link within the village of Spencerport and reinforces Governor Cuomo’s continued investment in infrastructure to ensure it is safe and reliable for generations to come.”
The New York State Canal Corporation is responsible for maintaining and operating the lifting components of the canal bridges, while NYSDOT owns and maintains the bridges and state highways
The Route 259 lift bridge initially closed in July 2019 to undergo replacement of the existing flooring system, which included the installation of high-strength galvanized steel, and updates to the lifting mechanisms and control tower. Following the repairs, the bridge is now accessible for all vehicles of legal loads to safely travel over the bridge and the southern approach along Route 259 has been re-aligned to enhance safety and improve sight distance for oncoming vehicular traffic.
Assemblyman Peter Lawrence said, “I am pleased that the Spencerport Lift Bridge at the Erie Canal will be open to vehicular traffic and that the project is near its completion. This project is part of a $16.3 million infrastructure investment by the state and will allow travelers in the Town of Ogden and Village of Spencerport to navigate over the Erie Canal safely and efficiently. I applaud the residents and all my partners in government for their patience and input during construction and I want to thank the New York State Department of Transportation and State Canal Corporation for acknowledging the community’s needs and moving forward with the plan.”
Spencerport Mayor Gary Penders said, “I would like to take this moment to pass on the appreciation the Spencerport Village Board has for the timely construction job on the Route 259 lift bridge in the Village of Spencerport. Because of the project we were able to complete our own sidewalk replacements in the area by the south side of the lift bridge, without disrupting that area later to accomplish that. Hohl Contractors were a pleasure to work with, addressed every concern we had. DOT addressed our numerous issues with our Martha Street detour throughout the project. Even though we are a small village our Village Board appreciates the concern shown to us for the disruption this project caused to our business and residents. The project was handled in a professional manner from the top to the guys working on the bridge. Personally, my hat is off to all that were and still are involved with this project.”
While Route 259 has reopened to vehicular traffic in Spencerport, construction activities at the bridge will continue on-site and motorists should be advised of potential short-term delays to test the lifting mechanisms of the bridge.
The Route 250 (Main Street) bridge in the village of Fairport, which is currently under construction as part of the same project, will reopen to traffic as early as February 2021.
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