The Erie-Lackawanna Bridge is going to be refurbished for bicycle and pedestrian traffic!
This is very big news, especially since the Southwest Common Council has already embraced the notion that a year round RochesterGreenway should go up the west side of the River (and re-invigorate a part of town much in need of it).
David Skinner, a friend of mine who has urged the city and the University of Rochester to open the Erie-Lackawanna Railroad Bridge to foot and bicycle traffic, passed along some good news on Friday. Tom Hack, a Project Engineer with the city, wrote to him:
Undertake site reconnaissance and survey…..Feb -April 2010
Begin preparation of alternatives ………. April – May 2010
Host Citizens Advisory Meetings ………… May -June 2010
Layout alternatives …………………… June-July 2010
Host public meetings ………………….. August 2010
Finalize concepts …………………….. Sept 2010
Finalize design ………………………. Sept – Jan 2010
Issue Construction Contracts …………… Jan 2011
Construction phase…………………….
Open Bridge……………………
The bridge hasn’t seen any railroad traffic since the 1970s. Once opened to pedestrian and cyclist traffic, it will provide another link between the East and West-side river trails. The Genesee Transportation Council has a detailed report on the project at:
http://www.gtcmpo.org/Docs/PlansStudies/ErieLackawannaRRBridgeTrailStudy.pdf
— Gary Young