Fight to Tear Down RR Bridges Heats Up
By: Cierra Putman
Updated: November 20, 2012
Ogden and Spencerport have tried for years to get three abandoned railroad bridges torn down. Now they're turning to Washington for help.
CSX stopped using and maintaining the bridges on Manitou Road and South Union and Washington streets 30 years ago.
This year, the company hired a contractor to do the job, but the contractor quit. Since then the village and town say they haven't heard from CSX.
Now Senator Chuck Schumer, (D) New York says CSX has no more excuses. He's working with the state and county so a CSX contractor can easily acquire demolition permits.
"The repeated stalling by CSX is an affront to the community and a constraint on the economy," Senator Schumer said.
Businesses say the bridges prevent goods from coming in quickly. Trailer trucks either go out of the way to avoid them, or get stuck underneath - causing lengthy traffic jams.
"As the traffic backs up people seek alternative ways to move around the village and to shop in other places," Spencerport Trustee and Business Owner Carol Nellis-Ewell said.
Despite heart shaped graffiti there's no love here. Folks want the bridges gone the sooner the better.
In a statement, CSX says it's now accepting bids to demolish the three bridges.
