The sign on the Canal bridge brought surprising news to all. No elected government officials, emergency personnel, school district personnel or downtown businesses had been alerted to the Route 259 Erie Canal bridge's two-week repair status. Ogden Supervisor Gay Lenhard notified NYS Assemblyman Bill Reilich and State Senator George Maziarz of the situation. Assemblyman Reilich was "absolutely livid" over the lack of communication from the Canal Authority to local officials. When phone calls by him to the Canal Authority failed to bring resolution, he placed a call to Governor George Pataki. "I am completely optimistic that we will be successful in getting this put off until a more convenient time of year," Lenhard said. "We support our local businesses 100 percent and do not want to see anything happen that will hurt them," she said prior to the postponement. On Thursday morning, Maziarz and Reilich announced in calls to Westside News Editor Evelyn Dow that they had succeeded in getting the work postponed until 2004. They also promised a public meeting at which all those concerned and affected by the bridge closing could discuss the possibilities. On Monday morning, November 3, signs suddenly appeared at the Union Street Bridge in Spencerport announcing it would be closed for repairs from November 12 to November 26. Village and town officials, school district personnel and emergency service providers were completely taken by surprise by this announcement, made via the placement of two lighted mobile sign boards near the bridge. Phone calls placed by both the supervisor's office and Spencerport Mayor Ted Walker's office to the Canal Authority revealed that the counterweights in the lifting cables were in need of replacement. The Canal Authority informed local officials that this was indeed a project that had been planned for some time and is part of the capital improvement project. They claimed it was up to the State DOT to contact local officials. State DOT were unaware of the planned project. Tom West, of the Spencerport highway department, explained that while the Canal Authority owns the actual bridges, the State DOT is in charge of the approaches to the bridges. Generally they work together but his contacts at the DOT all claimed they were completely taken by surprise by this project. "I'm appalled at the lack of concern by the Canal Authority for our local business people and community. And I will do everything possible to get this postponed to a more acceptable time," Lenhard said early last week. "The village and other local government offices were not notified of the Union Street Canal bridge project. The portal signs were the first and only communications from the New York State Thruway Authority. The only information to date has been by the village's phone calls to the NYS Thruway Authority in Buffalo. Only by our phone calls did we understand the reason for the closing, duration of the closing, and the timing of the closing. The authority had no plans to offer details, resolutions for large trucks servicing village businesses or coordination with the Department of Transportation. This lack of respect by the Thruway Authority towards local government, businesses, school districts, and the public is unacceptable. We will be doing everything within our means to make sure we have adequate prior notice in the future so proper planning for events can occur," Mayor Walker said before the postponement was announced. Terry O'Brien, from the Canal Authority, stated that they needed to repair the bridge when the canal was lowered but before it was frozen. They need the water in the canal to work the machinery necessary for the repairs. Lenhard asked if the repairs couldn't be done in the spring instead, before the canal was opened for the summer. Easter break would work really well, for example, in that the schools would be closed and the school buses would only have to use a detour for one week instead of the planned two. The timing of the closing was not only disruptive to the school district but local business owners were not pleased. "This is the most important time of year for all of us," stated Dave Ritchie of the Family Hardware. "Winter is our slow season to begin with and to have this happen at the beginning of the upcoming holiday season is disappointing." Ritchie was also very concerned as to how the large delivery trucks will get to his store. "These trucks are 53 feet long. They aren't going to be able to cross at Martha Street and make that swing around. IGA will have the same problem with their delivery trucks, they can't come under the underpass at Lyell. How are they supposed to get into the village?" Ginny Swarthout, owner of The Unique Shop, located in the business district, was equally upset by the closing. "We (the village businesses) are disappointed that the repairs had to occur at this time of year. This is the big retail season which is why we are in the village. Don't misunderstand, I am in favor of repairing the bridge and preventing an accident, however, they could have picked a better time of year." John Volkmuth of Java John's also feels business would be affected. "This closing would definitely impact my business in a negative way." Morning and evening commuters are frequent customers of the coffee shop. |
