Schoharie County’s Bridge Street bridge replacement project has gotten a huge shot in the arm:
A $11.6 million grant from the United States Department of Transportation’s highly-competitive federal Bridge Investment Program.
Total cost of the bridge replacement is estimated at $14.8 million.
The county’s already invested about $900,000 in preliminary engineering studies—some of it from other grants; County Department of Public Works Commissioner Dan Crandell said he’s already been seeking grants to help cover the remaining local share of about $2.9 million.
“This is huge,” Mr. Crandell said of the grant, news he got Monday afternoon.
“This is probably the biggest bridge grant we’ve ever received. Without it…it’s just such an important bridge.”
DPW had already posted weight limits on the 100-year-old bridge, meaning fully-loaded Town of Schoharie sand trucks were too heavy to cross it and had to go the long way, up Wetsel Hollow to plow Schoharie Hill Road last winter.
There was also the fear that it would have to be closed entirely—something that would delay any emergency response by 20-30 minutes.
“The bridge is essential for our town,” said a grateful Schoharie Supervisor Ben Oevering.
“It boosts the safety and efficiency of our roads, ensures emergency responders can act quickly, supports our farmers, who rely on it, and links our community hubs.”
Applications for the BIP grants were due by June, Mr. Crandell said.
In July, they were invited to a “debrief” and told they could submit more documentation to support their application and improve their score—something they were told could also work against them.
“We submitted more letters,” Mr. Crandell said. “They worked.”
The preliminary work already completed includes putting together a conceptual plan, soil borings, and repairs on the existing bridge.
After obtaining rights-of-way and finishing preliminary design, the final design for the new bridge will have to be approved, Mr. Crandell said.
“It’s a lengthy process.”
Even with a “pretty aggressive schedule,” it will likely be another two years before the project goes out to bid, he said, and demolition and construction will likely take two full construction seasons.
Supervisors’ chair Bill Federice of Conesville called word of the grant “wonderful” and said it’s “probably the most important news of the year.”
“I worry about that bridge more than any bridge in Conesville,” he said. “Not the inconvenience, but first responders.
“Senator Schumer, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, Dan Crandell and our local state elected officials…we’re tremendously grateful to everyone who had a hand in this.”