Work to replace the former Erie Railroad bridge over the Genesee River Gorge in Letchworth State Park in New York began Thursday with a ground-breaking ceremony.
Norfolk Southern, which owns the Southern Tier route, plans to construct a $70 million single-track steel arch span over the gorge.
The bridge will be 900 feet in length and positioned 75 feet south of the current iron truss bridge.
As part of the project, the railroad will install 1,200 feet of new track on each side of the gorge to align the tracks.
The new span will take three years to construct and is being built in part with public funding.
The project budget includes $3 million in design costs and $2.5 million in construction costs from the New York Department of Transportation; a $2 million grant from the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council; and a $10 million grant from the U.S. Federal Highway Administration. The remaining funding will come from NS.
“This successful public-private partnership underscores the strong confidence we all have in the ongoing potential of the Southern Tier,” said NS Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer James Squires. “Norfolk Southern has a robust bridge program, and the new Portageville Bridge will be a testament to today’s expert engineers and the craftsmanship of today’s railroaders.”
Tags: Letchworth State Park, Norfolk Southern, NS Southern Tier Line, Railroad bridges
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