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Old Route 219 high level bridge over Cattaraugus Creek closed for safety inspection
Thursday January 12, 2012 | By:Jessie Owen, Journal editor
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- Photos by Jessie Owen.
- A FAMILIAR SIGHT — Drivers might experience a little déjà vu when they come to this “Bridge Closed” sign on the high level bridge on the old Route 219. Shown is the side of the bridge near Scoby Hill Road in Concord.
- FOLLOW THE SIGNS — This detour sign was set at the end of Scoby Hill Road to direct drivers to take the old Route 219 into Springville and circle back on the new Route 219.
FOLLOW THE SIGNS — This detour sign was set at the end of Scoby Hill Road to direct drivers to take the old Route 219 into Springville and circle back on the new Route 219.
The New York State Department of Transportation has announced that, after undergoing inspection, the former Route 219 bridge over Cattaraugus Creek between Concord in Erie County and Ashford in Cattaraugus County has been closed.
“It’s my understanding that they were taking part in some ongoing repairs and they discovered something that they thought was a safety issue and decided that it should be closed immediately,” said Kate Moody, Springville Area Chamber of Commerce executive director.
According to New York Senator Patrick Gallivan, state DOT officials were taking part in the repairs when an irregularity was discovered, warranting a more thorough inspection to “ensure the bridge’s safety for motorists.” At press time, the specific issue discovered on the bridge had not yet been made public knowledge. Gallivan’s office reported that the potential problem was referred to the DOT’s Structural Group for a complete structural safety review, which is expected to take four - six weeks. During that time, according to Senator Catharine Young’s office, a detour will route “all traffic over the new twin Route 219 bridges east of the old bridge. Area businesses have requested appropriate detour signs so they will not be impacted any more than necessary.”
Moody said, “If the issue is safety, then there’s no question you close something that isn’t safe. We certainly don’t want people to travel over an unsafe structure. But the abruptness is going to be a hardship for our businesses that weren’t able to plan for this.”
An August 2011 meeting had alerted those in attendance of the scheduled closing of this bridge for deck replacement between May and October of this year, and Moody said that, while business owners were aware that they would have to prepare for that eventuality, they were caught off-guard by the Jan. 5 announcement. “Please follow the detour and continue to come in and patronize those local businesses,” she said. “Four to six weeks of a commercial district that has become a dead end street could be very hard on some of these businesses.”
Gallivan echoed Moody’s sentiments, stressing that the bridge, located on South Cascade Drive in Concord and Miller Road in Ashford, is still used extensively and is a “major economic lifeline for Western New York, particularly for the village of Springville.” He said that his office will be working with the DOT to “ensure that the review and subsequent repairs are made in a timely fashion.”
While it is not yet known how long the bridge will remain closed if the DOT’s Structural Group recommends any repairs, Moody encouraged local community members to speak with their legislators to advocate for the swift re-opening of the bridge. “They have to do what they can to repair it as soon as possible and to allocate the necessary funds to get it open as soon as possible,” she said. “You can’t argue with the fact that we need to keep our bridges safe, but we have to work through that and get them reopened as soon as possible.”
Concord Town Supervisor Gary Eppolito called the four - six week scheduled bridge closing “disconcerting,” but said that his primary worry is the potential for the bridge to be permanently shut down. “This closure will be devastating for many of the businesses along the 219 corridor,” he said. “I’m very concerned about the long-term viability of that bridge.”
Calling for the continued support of area businesses by local shoppers, Moody asked residents of the community to rally around their neighbors who will be affected by the bridge’s closing. “I want to stress: It’s not a redundant bridge, because there are a considerable number of businesses and jobs along that commercial strip that depend on that flow of traffic,” she said. “Interrupting that flow would, without doubt, lead to the closing of several businesses and the loss of jobs.”
Gallivan assured the public that he will be in close contact with the DOT and said he welcomes comments from individuals or businesses. His Depew office can be reached at 656-8544. The Springville Area Chamber of Commerce can be reached at 592-4746.
Erie County Legislator John Mills is available at his legislative office at 858-8850 or by email at john.mills@erie.gov.
“It’s my understanding that they were taking part in some ongoing repairs and they discovered something that they thought was a safety issue and decided that it should be closed immediately,” said Kate Moody, Springville Area Chamber of Commerce executive director.
According to New York Senator Patrick Gallivan, state DOT officials were taking part in the repairs when an irregularity was discovered, warranting a more thorough inspection to “ensure the bridge’s safety for motorists.” At press time, the specific issue discovered on the bridge had not yet been made public knowledge. Gallivan’s office reported that the potential problem was referred to the DOT’s Structural Group for a complete structural safety review, which is expected to take four - six weeks. During that time, according to Senator Catharine Young’s office, a detour will route “all traffic over the new twin Route 219 bridges east of the old bridge. Area businesses have requested appropriate detour signs so they will not be impacted any more than necessary.”
Moody said, “If the issue is safety, then there’s no question you close something that isn’t safe. We certainly don’t want people to travel over an unsafe structure. But the abruptness is going to be a hardship for our businesses that weren’t able to plan for this.”
An August 2011 meeting had alerted those in attendance of the scheduled closing of this bridge for deck replacement between May and October of this year, and Moody said that, while business owners were aware that they would have to prepare for that eventuality, they were caught off-guard by the Jan. 5 announcement. “Please follow the detour and continue to come in and patronize those local businesses,” she said. “Four to six weeks of a commercial district that has become a dead end street could be very hard on some of these businesses.”
Gallivan echoed Moody’s sentiments, stressing that the bridge, located on South Cascade Drive in Concord and Miller Road in Ashford, is still used extensively and is a “major economic lifeline for Western New York, particularly for the village of Springville.” He said that his office will be working with the DOT to “ensure that the review and subsequent repairs are made in a timely fashion.”
While it is not yet known how long the bridge will remain closed if the DOT’s Structural Group recommends any repairs, Moody encouraged local community members to speak with their legislators to advocate for the swift re-opening of the bridge. “They have to do what they can to repair it as soon as possible and to allocate the necessary funds to get it open as soon as possible,” she said. “You can’t argue with the fact that we need to keep our bridges safe, but we have to work through that and get them reopened as soon as possible.”
Concord Town Supervisor Gary Eppolito called the four - six week scheduled bridge closing “disconcerting,” but said that his primary worry is the potential for the bridge to be permanently shut down. “This closure will be devastating for many of the businesses along the 219 corridor,” he said. “I’m very concerned about the long-term viability of that bridge.”
Calling for the continued support of area businesses by local shoppers, Moody asked residents of the community to rally around their neighbors who will be affected by the bridge’s closing. “I want to stress: It’s not a redundant bridge, because there are a considerable number of businesses and jobs along that commercial strip that depend on that flow of traffic,” she said. “Interrupting that flow would, without doubt, lead to the closing of several businesses and the loss of jobs.”
Gallivan assured the public that he will be in close contact with the DOT and said he welcomes comments from individuals or businesses. His Depew office can be reached at 656-8544. The Springville Area Chamber of Commerce can be reached at 592-4746.
Erie County Legislator John Mills is available at his legislative office at 858-8850 or by email at john.mills@erie.gov.
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