October 29, 2007

LEGISLATOR RANZENHOFER ANNOUNCES RE-OPENING OF AKRON-CRITTENDEN BRIDGE

(Akron – New York) – Erie County Legislator Michael H. Ranzenhofer announced today that the Akron-Crittenden Bridge which crosses Murder Creek in the Town of Newstead has been reopened to traffic. The bridge was reopened early in the afternoon on October 24th after the State of New York Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) removed all of the structural "red flags" from the bridge. The NYSDOT defines a "Red Structural Flag" condition as one which reports the actual or imminent failure of a major structural component of a bridge. Conditions that are "red flagged" require immediate corrective action in order for them to maintain traffic operations. Engineers with the State Department of Transportation reported that the bridge was sliced at its piers and given new diaphragms and a new deck. In addition, significant repairs were made to the bridge's pedestal, at a total project cost of $385,000. "Upgrades to the pedestal and the new deck will significantly enhance the bridge's structural stability for years to come," said Legislator Ranzenhofer. Legislator Ranzenhofer also expressed his thanks and gratitude to the Town of Newstead, the Village of Akron, the New York State Department of transportation, Erie County Department of Public Works employees and the construction workers from Union Concrete of West Seneca, who contributed to the fast repair and reopening of the bridge.

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