State Department of Transportation Announces Start of Bridge Replacement Project Along State Route 22 In Essex County

Contact: Scott Cook, (518) 485-7768
Release Date: March 15, 2024

State Department of Transportation Announces Start of Bridge Replacement Project Along State Route 22 In Essex County

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez today announced the start of construction on a $3.4 million project to replace the State Route 22 bridge over the Bouquet River in Essex County. The project will replace the existing, 91-year-old structure located in the picturesque hamlet of Whallonsburg with a modern, single span, steel girder bridge that will enhance safety and improve travel along a vital travel route serving several North Country communities and popular recreational destinations. The new bridge will also be longer to better protect the river's ecosystem and will have wider shoulders to better accommodate pedestrians and cyclists who travel this roadway as part of the historic Empire State Trail.

"In communities large and small, New York State under Governor Kathy Hochul's leadership is making critically important investments in infrastructure that will improve connectivity, quality of life and accessibility for all users of the transportation system," Commissioner Dominguez said. "Whether traveling by bike, by car or on foot, State Route 22 provides access to some of the region's most desirable destinations and this new bridge over the Bouquet River will help ensure that it continues to serve residents and visitors for decades to come."

Built in 1933, the existing 110-foot-long bridge over the Bouquet River carries approximately 930 motor vehicles per day and has served the community well, for over 90 years. The new bridge will be 30 feet longer than the existing bridge, negating the need for in-water construction and minimizing disturbances to the river's ecosystem. Five-foot-wide shoulders will also better accommodate pedestrians and cyclists who share the roadway.

In addition to being part of the Empire State Trail, which comprises 750 miles of pathways reaching from New York City to Buffalo and Canada, the roadway is also part of the popular New York State Bike Route 9, extending 345 miles from New York City to the New York - Quebec border.

During construction, State Route 22 will be closed to traffic between Whallons Bay Road and Tyrell Street. Northbound traffic will be detoured onto Whallons Bay Road to Tyrell Street back to State Route 22 Northbound. Southbound traffic will be detoured onto Tyrell Street to Whallons Bay Road back to State Route 22 Southbound. During the closure, all properties and businesses in the area will remain accessible to residents and emergency responders.

A temporary four-way stop sign will be implemented at State Route 22 and Walker Road/Whallonsburg Bay Road for motorists and a temporary pedestrian crosswalk will be installed across Whallonsburg Bay Road for visitors to the Whallonsburg Grange Hall, a popular arts, entertainment, and community venue. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

State Senator Daniel Stec said, "The existing State Route 22 bridge over the Bouquet River has served our region for more than 90 years. This replacement project will be a necessary upgrade, making the bridge safer for residents and visitors alike, as well as improving accessibility for those who use it as part of the Empire State Trail."

Assemblymember Matthew Simpson said, "The replacement of the State Route 22 Bridge over the Bouquet River is a testament the state's commitment to deliver modern updated infrastructure to meet the basic travel and safety needs of New York residents and visitors alike. This is a welcomed project that many in the North Country who use this route are excited to see come to fruition."

Essex Town SupervisorKen Hughes said, "We in the Town of Essex appreciate the efforts to date of the NYSDOT to help prepare our community for this major bridge replacement in our community. Despite being a small municipality of 621 people, State Route 22 in Essex serves as a vital gateway for hundreds of thousands of vehicles over the many years for those wishing to access the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks or the scenic beauty of Vermont and New England, or anywhere in between. We are optimistic for the creation of this new bridge that we hope it will serve local residents, visitors and passersby for another 90 years."

Motorists are reminded to Move Over a lane, if safely possible, or slow down significantly whenever encountering roadside vehicles displaying red, white, blue, amber, or green lights, including maintenance and construction vehicles in work zones.

Motorists are urged to slow down and drive responsibly in work zones. Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. Convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual's driver license.

For up-to-date travel information, call 511, visit www.511NY.org or download the free 511NY mobile app.

Follow New York State DOT on X (Formerly known as Twitter): @NYSDOT. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/NYSDOT. For tweets from New York State DOT Region 1 (covering the Capital Region), follow @NYSDOTAlbany.

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