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Columbia Co. bridges make 'worst' list

Sep 18, 2019 12:15 pm
MidHudsonNews [dot] com is reporting a study by TRIP, a National Transportation Research Nonprofit, has ranked Hudson's Ferry Street Bridge as the structurally worst bridge in the Hudson Valley. The span, located in Hudson's First Ward is currently closed to traffic. The other Columbia County location to make the worst bridges list was the Route 23 bridge over the Taghkanic State Parkway in Claverack. That structure was ranked 11th on the list of 25. Of those 25, nine are located in Westchester County, five are in Orange County, three are in each Putnam and Ulster counties, two are in each Rockland and Columbia counties, and one is located in Dutchess County. The Federal Highway Administration estimates it will cost $3.6 billion to replace or rehabilitate all of the structurally deficient bridges in New York state. The lack of sufficient funding has been an ongoing issue statewide for years and TRIP organization Associate Director of Research and Communication Carolyn Kelly said without the necessary resources, conditions will only get worse. Of the Hudson Valley bridges studied, 64 percent were rated in fair condition meaning the bridge’s structural elements are sound, but some minor deterioration has occurred. The remaining 23 percent were rated in good condition. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.