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News Bethlehem says: ‘Keep Ben’s bridge’ (Albany County, Bethlehem, New Scotland, Voorheesville) Posted on: 08/05/09 Jarrett Carroll, Spotlight Staff email: carrollj@spotlightnews.com As the state’s Department of Transportation reviews Albany County’s recommendation to take down the Old School Road bridge in Selkirk, local residents and officials are asking the county to look at some more options. The Albany County Executive’s Office hired Clough Harbour and Associates to help evaluate three main options for repairing, replacing and removing the bridge and decided to close it on July 6. County officials ultimately said the most cost-effective option was to remove the bridge, which traverses 11,000 feet over about 50 CSX rail lines. Albany County Commissioner of Public Works Michael Franchini said it would cost $16 million to replace the County Route 53 bridge now known as “Ben’s bridge,” about $13 million to repair it and just over $1 million to tear it down. He said the costs were simply “too high,” especially during today’s economic climate and the bridge was deemed a “code red” in terms of stability. CSX owns the super structure and the abutments of 86-year-old bridge, according to Franchini, and the county owns the decking and the bridge’s surface. With the bridge now closed, traffic is currently being detoured to nearby routes 32 and 396. Christine Frankovic, who lives on South Albany Road, said closing the bridge was a mistake in the 1980s, and it’s a mistake today. “My greatest concern with the closure of this bridge is that it has put the safety of the residents living in the South Albany Road area in jeopardy,” Frankovic said. She said tearing the bridge down for good could lead to deadly delays. “Emergency services now encounter significant delays when responding to this area,” she said. “Considering the close proximity to the sprawling CSX rail yard, which often handles volatile and hazardous cargo, and where derailments and chemical spills are not unheard of, this fear cannot be stressed enough.” A local man died at the CSX rail yard in Selkirk on May 10 following a train coupling accident. The incident was pointed to as an example by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET) and the United Transportation Union (UTU) in a June petition filed with the Federal Railroad Administration to ban “one-man crews.” The bridge was open at the time of that incident. Selkirk Fire Chief William Borger told The Spotlight that because of the 15-ton weight limit on the bridge, most of the department’s larger fire vehicles cannot cross the bridge. He said his personnel have already gone around the bridge “for years now.” But now any emergency vehicle under 15 tons that previously used the Route 53 bridge now has to go a mile and half in either direction to get to the other side. Director of Bethlehem’s emergency management office, John Brennan, said although the bridge’s closure would not hamper the Selkirk Fire Department, it could definitely slow down other emergency responders such as police and ambulance crews. “As far as emergency management, it’s a concern, because it adds a little bit of time to normal response times that EMS and police may have,” Brennan said. “Time is a valuable factor in an emergency situation.” Overall, Brennan said, “We’d like to see what the future brings, we’d like to see it rebuilt.” The closed bridge has raised eyebrows in the past as well. In January of 1989, Robert H. Rienow, a nationally renowned environmentalist and founder of the state’s Audubon Society, died inside of his home on Rarick Road after embers from a woodstove set a showcase ablaze. The Selkirk Fire Department said at the time that Rienow, a former University at Albany professor, was already dead when they arrived and little could have changed the outcome. They did comment, however, that an open Old School Road bridge could have helped save some of structure, which was a total loss. His property is now a large environmental preserve. Aside from emergencies, Frankovic also pointed to practical uses of the bridge. “The closure of this bridge is also an inconvenience. It provides access for all area residents traveling to Route 9, Glenmont, Albany and points north,” she said. “We will again have to change our way of life and for how long? Gas is on the average $2.55 a gallon and all detours around the bridge are on the average an additional two and a half miles.” Bethlehem Supervisor Jack Cunningham said he, too, wishes to see the bridge salvaged. In a letter dated July 20, 2009, he wrote in response to the county’s recommendation to close the bridge and sent a copy to area county legislators, the county executive and Franchini. “I join with local residents, however, to oppose the removal of this bridge with no plans for future replacement,” he said. “I feel that its permanent closure creates unnecessary access burdens on these residents and the potential for delays in response time form emergency vehicles.” Overall, Cunningham said, “We would like to see it re-opened.” The supervisor said he has not sought stimulus funds through the American Recovery Act (ARA) because “it is a county issue,” but said he doubted the bridge would qualify for stimulus money even if there was another round of funding and it was shovel ready in time. “There’s an extraordinary amount of applications for funds. I spokes with Sen. Kirstin Gillibrand’s representatives and was told that New York state has appropriated $30 billion for projects,” Cunningham said. “But there are $100 billion in requests and Ben’s bridge is not going to rank high in the priorities.” Franchini said for a new bridge of its magnitude to receive the proper permits and complete a final design plan would take a full calendar year “in the best case scenario.” As for residential rumors that there was money put aside for the bridge by the county, Albany County Comptroller Michael Conners said that is simply untrue. “ There was a $6.6 million construction bond resolution adopted a while back, but that money was never borrowed,” Conners said. “There is no pot of money set aside.” Franchini said there were some limited funds available for engineering purposed, which was used. Frankovic has written letters to area legislators, the county executive's office, the state DOT, and the county department of public works about keeping the bridge open. She said only Franchini has responded to her so far and she never heard back from Albany County Legislator Richard Mendick, C-Selkirk; Assemblyman Tim Gordon, I-Bethlehem; state Sen. Neil Breslin, D-Delmar; or Albany County Executive Michael Breslin. Frankovic said she is contemplating circulating a petition to save Ben's Bridge. You can contact carrollj@spotlightnews.com with any questions. Also, feel free to post comments below. Comments powered by Disqus |
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