Department of Transportation

State Department of Transportation Announces Completion of Higginsville Road Bridge Replacement in Oneida County

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez today announced the completion of a project to replace the Higginsville Road Bridge in the Town of Verona, Oneida County, restoring an important travel link over the Erie Canal that had been closed since 2008. The new bridge provides residents of Verona and the nearby Town of Vienna with a convenient travel route through the western Oneida County region and enhances response times for first responders. It also improves access to area attractions, including Sylvan Beach and Verona Beach State Park.

“The opening of the new Higginsville Road Bridge sends an important message that New York continues to move forward under Governor Cuomo, not only restoring our infrastructure but building it back better,” Commissioner Dominguez said. “This new bridge reopens an important crossing over the Erie Canal that had been closed for more than a decade, enhancing safety and easing the flow of people and commerce throughout western Oneida County.”

The new structure replaces a span that was built in 1908 and carried only a single travel lane with a modern, 230-feet-long steel plate girder bridge that has two travel lanes and 5-foot shoulders on either side. The Town of Verona was awarded $4.8 million toward replacement of this structure which was funded as part of the $200 million 2016 BRIDGE NY program.  The New York State DOT undertook the design and oversaw construction on behalf of the Town.

Governor Cuomo’s BRIDGE NY program has provided more than $500 million in enhanced assistance for local governments to rehabilitate and replace bridges and culverts to reduce the risk of flooding, facilitate regional economic development or increase competitiveness and address aging infrastructure.

New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “For 200 years the Erie Canal has connected communities across Upstate New York and today’s opening of the new Higginsville Road Bridge is another example of Governor Cuomo’s continued investment in canalside communities that restores a vital link between the towns of Verona and Vienna.  The Canal Corporation is proud to collaborate with the Department of Transportation on this project as it greatly improves the safety for pedestrians and vehicles crossing over the bridge and for the boats passing underneath on the canal.”

Senator Joseph Griffo said, “I am pleased that the Higginsville Road Bridge, which has been closed since 2008, has reopened. This momentous occasion comes after I met several times with local officials and continuously advocated that the state Department of Transportation make this project a priority and ensure it be undertaken. The completion of this long-awaited project will make life easier for the residents, first responders, motorists and communities that have been negatively affected by the bridge’s closure for so long.”

Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush, said, “I'm honored to be here with you all today for the opening of the new Higginsville Bridge.  I've fought for the creation of this bridge for a while now and I'm happy to see it's opening to the public. The Higginsville Bridge will greatly benefit our community."  

Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. said, “I am pleased that the Higginsville Road Bridge is once again open to the people of Oneida County. It’s been a long time since those in Vienna and Verona had easy access through the western part of the county and reestablishing this vital link will not only make things easier for them, but improve the response time for emergency services and the connection to area attractions for all.”

Verona Town Supervisor Scott Musacchio said, “The completion of the Higginsville Bridge Project is a great milestone for our community and our neighboring communities. The bridge will allow more rapid and efficient public safety responses as well as provide a more direct travel route for commuters and general travel alike. I would like to thank the NYSDOT, BridgeNY and all of our local leaders for their assistance with this important project.”

Vienna Town Supervisor William Graham said, “The Town of Vienna would like to thank all parties involved rebuilding the Higginsville Bridge. With the Higginsville Bridge opening, it will alleviate congestion in Sylvan Beach during the summer months, as well as shorten commute times for persons traveling from the North End of Oneida County to the South End of Oneida County. It also will provide a quicker medical response. Again, the Town of Vienna is grateful for the assistance from NYS to make this happen.”

Motorists are reminded that fines are doubled for speeding in work zones.  In accordance with the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005, convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver’s license.    

For real-time travel information, motorists should call 511 or visit www.511NY.org or the mobile site at m.511ny.org, New York State’s official traffic and travel information source.

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