How safe are Chenango's bridges?
NORWICH – The deficiency rating for bridge conditions in Chenango County is below New York State’s average, according to Department of Public Works Director Randy Gibbon.
The county’s 141 bridges have a 31 percent deficiency rating versus 40 percent in the state. On a scale of one to seven, with seven being a new structure, any bridge with a 5 or below rating is considered “deficient,” he said.
“Some may be defined as deficient, but they are still safe and very usable for where they are,” Gibbon said. For example, the one lane, Red Mill Hill bridge over the Canasawacta Creek in the Town of Norwich is categorized as deficient because of its low tonnage limit, but that’s the type of traffic that uses it.
Most of the county’s bridges were built in the 1920s and 1930s when load standards were much lighter than the 30 to 40 ton vehicles which cross them today.
Bridges on a list to be replaced within the next five years include: the Halfway House Bridge on county Route 32B, the State Street Bridge in Oxford, the East Hill Bridge in Sherburne, Race Road Bridge in Greene, the Old New York State Route 23 in Plymouth and Will Skillman Road Bridge in German.
Work on the Halfway House Bridge project began Aug. 1. The superstructure itself will be replaced next year.
The deadly bridge collapse in Minnesota last week has focused national, state and local attention on bridge safety. In a press conference early this week, Binghamton Senator Thomas Libous called for bridge funding reform. He introduced the Bridge and Road Investment and Dedicated Fund Guaranteed Reform Act - or BRIDGE - as a solution to the current lack of bridge funding.
Currently there is $750 million in the state’s Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund. Gibbon said much of that money has gone toward motor vehicle department employees and other unrelated programs.
“There’s a certain percentage of that money being siphoned off to other programs,” Gibbon said. “Libous’ legislation will re-direct the money back to road and bridge repair.”
The county’s 141 bridges have a 31 percent deficiency rating versus 40 percent in the state. On a scale of one to seven, with seven being a new structure, any bridge with a 5 or below rating is considered “deficient,” he said.
“Some may be defined as deficient, but they are still safe and very usable for where they are,” Gibbon said. For example, the one lane, Red Mill Hill bridge over the Canasawacta Creek in the Town of Norwich is categorized as deficient because of its low tonnage limit, but that’s the type of traffic that uses it.
Most of the county’s bridges were built in the 1920s and 1930s when load standards were much lighter than the 30 to 40 ton vehicles which cross them today.
Bridges on a list to be replaced within the next five years include: the Halfway House Bridge on county Route 32B, the State Street Bridge in Oxford, the East Hill Bridge in Sherburne, Race Road Bridge in Greene, the Old New York State Route 23 in Plymouth and Will Skillman Road Bridge in German.
Work on the Halfway House Bridge project began Aug. 1. The superstructure itself will be replaced next year.
The deadly bridge collapse in Minnesota last week has focused national, state and local attention on bridge safety. In a press conference early this week, Binghamton Senator Thomas Libous called for bridge funding reform. He introduced the Bridge and Road Investment and Dedicated Fund Guaranteed Reform Act - or BRIDGE - as a solution to the current lack of bridge funding.
Currently there is $750 million in the state’s Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund. Gibbon said much of that money has gone toward motor vehicle department employees and other unrelated programs.
“There’s a certain percentage of that money being siphoned off to other programs,” Gibbon said. “Libous’ legislation will re-direct the money back to road and bridge repair.”
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