Work is slated to begin Monday, May 15, on a project to rehabilitate the State Route 19 lift bridge over the Erie Canal in the Village of Brockport. The project will replace the bridge deck and make other improvements to enhance safety and improve travel over this iconic structure, which was originally built in 1915 and provides important access to Brockport’s vibrant downtown corridor as well as the nearby SUNY Brockport campus. State Route 19 is also a key conduit for the region’s many agricultural products. The work is expected to extend the bridge’s service life by approximately 30 years.
“The historic Erie Canal is a historical treasure that exemplifies the perseverance and ingenuity of New Yorkers and the Department of Transportation is committed to helping the communities along the canal remain vibrant and prosperous,” said New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez. “The rehabilitation of the State Route 19 bridge will help protect a vital travel route for the flow of people and goods in the region while also preserving the historic charm that has made Brockport a hub for tourism.”
New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “The Village of Brockport’s Main Street Lift Bridge has been a vital crossing over the Erie Canal for more than 100 years, and by investing in this rehabilitation project, Governor Hochul and our colleagues at the state Department of Transportation are ensuring that this historic structure will continue to serve the community for decades to come. As we prepare for the Erie Canal’s third century of operation, strategic investments into long existing infrastructure like the lift bridge and new amenities like the Brockport pedestrian bridge reinforce the canal’s role as an economic engine for the villages, towns, and cities that grew along it.”
Work on the bridge is part of a larger $28.3 million project that also includes the rehabilitation of the State Route 98 Bridge over the Erie Canal in the Village of Albion, which began in November 2022. The project builds on NYSDOT’s prior success in modernizing and preserving the iconic structures along the canal, which includes a recently completed, $16.9 million project that rehabilitated similar bridges in the Villages of Spencerport and Fairport.
The State Route 19 steel truss bridge serves as an important component to the historic Erie Canal, which is a registered National Historic Landmark. As part of the canal, the bridge benefits from historical protections that ensure the bridge continues to look as it did early in the 20th century with its trusses and lift towers preserved. This project will extend the bridge’s service life and better support motorists for a 21st century economy by:
•Replacing bridge decks and portions of the truss system with high-strength, galvanized steel.
•Modernizing mechanical and electrical components within the bridge’s lifting system.
•Rehabilitating the bridge towers.
•Installing new bridge rails.
•Implementing pedestrian enhancements near the bridge, including new signage, pavement markings and a realigned canal path on the bridge’s north end to improve visibility for both pedestrians and motorists.
•Repainting the bridge, maintaining its current shade of green.
During construction, the bridge will be dismantled with individual trusses lifted and placed in a lot nearby the canal, where the rehabilitation work will occur. When work is complete, the trusses will be moved back into place over the canal. Due to the nature of this work, the roadway will be closed to motorists and pedestrians for roughly 18 months. A signed detour will be in place utilizing State Route 31/Redman Road, State Route 31/4th Section Road/West Avenue. The Erie Canal Trailway will remain open for the duration of the project.
Senator Robert Ortt said, “By rehabilitating the State Route 19 lift bridge, our state is committing to the safety of motorists who utilize this bridge daily and maintaining the cultural significance these canal bridges represent in our area. Improvements to this historic bridge will ensure that residents and visitors to our community will continue to have the unique experience of traversing a piece of New York State history while shopping and dining in Brockport’s picturesque downtown corridor. I commend the Department of Transportation for addressing the necessary improvements to this bridge so that it can continue to be a key fixture in our community for decades to come.”
Assemblyman Steve Hawley said, “I’m so thrilled to hear that the Brockport Bridge over the Erie Canal is finally receiving the support it deserves for a full repair and revitalization. This is the kind of investment that is critical to our communities, and the work done now will ensure the bridge stands for generations to come. I want to thank the state Department of Transportation for their commitment to our local infrastructure, and wish the construction crew well as they begin the restoration process.”
Village of Brockport Mayor Margay Blackman said, “‘Bridging Brockport,’ a community committee, has been working towards this moment for two years, meeting with Spencerport, Fairport and Albion and planning events to attract visitors and residents to our downtown. We’ve studied the flow of traffic through the village and across our other two canal bridges and attended to cyclist and pedestrian traffic. No doubt the inconvenience and glitches these next 18 months will create, but this is also an educational moment for all. We have a web page devoted to the bridge closure (https://brockportny.org/bridge/) that will provide updates and will host the live feed from a webcam on the project. We’re ready and looking forward to a new bridge in 18 months.”
Provided information
