Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the completion of the new $75 million freight rail bridge over the Genesee River gorge at Letchworth State Park. The new bridge will enable the Norfolk Southern Railway to continue safe, cost-competitive, and reliable service across the Finger Lakes Region. Located in the Town of Portage, Livingston County, and the Town of Genesee Falls, Wyoming County, the bridge supports "Finger Lakes Forward," the region's comprehensive strategy to revitalize communities and grow the economy.
"This vital infrastructure project will serve to significantly improve the efficiency and capacity of rail service in the region," Governor Cuomo said. "The newer, more structurally sound bridge allows for greater rail traffic than ever before, bringing economic growth to the Southern Tier for generations to come."
In December 2014, Governor Cuomo announced federal approval of the plan to build a new arch bridge to replace the historic Portageville Bridge carrying the Norfolk Southern Railway Southern Tier Line. Freight rail service on the new bridge began in December 2017 and the bridge's completion was celebrated today with a ceremony at Letchworth State Park in Castile, Wyoming County.
The bridge was identified in the New York State Rail Plan as one of the ten most significant rail bottlenecks in the state. In 2011, the Regional Economic Development Council's Strategic Plan identified replacement of the bridge among their five-year projects to address barriers to economic growth.
The design and construction of the $75 million bridge project was funded with $59.5 million from Norfolk Southern and $15.5 million from New York State, including a $2 million grant from the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council and $13.5 million in state and federal funds provided from the New York State Department of Transportation.
The single-track bridge was constructed just to the south of the old Portageville Bridge, which was built in 1875 and was a prominent feature in Letchworth State Park for more than a century. The new bridge has a 483-foot arch, a total length of 963 feet, and sits 235 feet above the Genesee River.
The new bridge makes shipping less costly and more efficient by allowing train cars to be fully loaded, which was not previously possible as the old bridge had weight restrictions. In addition, trains can travel over the new bridge at 30 miles per hour, up from the 10 mile-per-hour restriction the old bridge carried.
The bridge was identified in the New York State Rail Plan as one of the ten most significant rail bottlenecks in the state. In 2011, the Regional Economic Development Council's Strategic Plan identified replacement of the bridge among their five-year projects to address barriers to economic growth.
The design and construction of the $75 million bridge project was funded with $59.5 million from Norfolk Southern and $15.5 million from New York State, including a $2 million grant from the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council and $13.5 million in state and federal funds provided from the New York State Department of Transportation.
The single-track bridge was constructed just to the south of the old Portageville Bridge, which was built in 1875 and was a prominent feature in Letchworth State Park for more than a century. The new bridge has a 483-foot arch, a total length of 963 feet, and sits 235 feet above the Genesee River.
The new bridge makes shipping less costly and more efficient by allowing train cars to be fully loaded, which was not previously possible as the old bridge had weight restrictions. In addition, trains can travel over the new bridge at 30 miles per hour, up from the 10 mile-per-hour restriction the old bridge carried.
