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Belfast, NY – A dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the County Road 26 Bridge in Belfast was held at 10 a.m. today. The bridge was officially opened and named the William “Bill” A. Nichols Bridge. Representatives from Governor Hochul’s office, Congressman Langworthy’s office, Senator Borrello’s office, Assemblyman Sempolinski’s office, and Allegany County attended the ceremony along with family members and friends of Mr. Nichols.
William “Bill” Nichols, present at the ceremony, is a long-time resident of Belfast. His career in public works began in 1968 and continued for nearly fifty years. During that time, he served as Belfast Highway Superintendent, President of the Allegany County Highway Superintendents Association, New York State Association of Town Superintendents of Highways, Inc., and the New York State Association of Towns.
The bridge was closed to traffic in February 2022, which has greatly impacted the routing of police, fire, and emergency services, significantly altered school transportation plans, and created a substantial detour for commuter and business traffic. Shortly after the bridge was closed, Governor Hochul announced that Allegany County would be awarded $8.6 million toward the replacement of that bridge. The $8.6 million was funded by the NYS DOT through a combination of federal, state, and local funding.