Boulevard construction due by 2011

by Susan Mikula Campbell
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, January 21, 2010

The existing Niagara Falls Boulevard bridge looking north.

The state Department of Transportation is getting ready to start work on the reconstruction of Niagara Falls Boulevard in Wheatfield, with the reconstruction of the bridge over Bergholz Creek.

The bridge project, called a pre-project, is expected to start in 2011 and be completed by the end of 2012. The entire project, intended to widen and make the boulevard safer, is not expected to be completed until 2018, possibly later.

On Jan. 13, the DOT held a public information meeting at the Wheatfield Community Center on the bridge phase of the project. About 20 people attended.

Bergholz Creek goes under the boulevard at the northwest end of the project near Stoelting Machine. The new single span bridge will carry five lanes, instead of four, adding a turning lane in the middle. The $5 million reconstruction of the bridge will include a curb offset and new sidewalk on the southbound side of the road, according to Craig Mozrall, DOT assistant regional design engineer, who gave a presentation on the project at last week’s meeting.

The next phase, realigning and widening the boulevard from north of Krueger Road to south of Sy Road, is expected to begin the summer of 2014 and be completed by late 2016. Construction of the final piece, from south of Sy Road to Cayuga Drive Extension, is due to begin the summer of 2016 and be completed by late 2018.

While the bridge pre-project dates are fairly firm, the rest of the project completion depends on money being available Mozrall said. Completion of the entire project could be delayed “if money becomes a bigger issue than it already is,” he said.

Wheatfield Supervisor Robert Cliffe was pleased that the DOT already has plans to allow traffic to continue in one lane each way during the bridge construction.

However in regards to the rest of the project, he said, “My personal concern about this is that we would have the boulevard tied up in knots for a full four years. During the last project, at least four businesses closed their doors. This would be four years, so I’m concerned and looking for possible alternatives.”

Still, the bright spot will be that Niagara Falls Boulevard, now plagued with numerous accidents, including recent fatal accidents, will be made wider and safer.

“It certainly will slow traffic up and impinge on local business,” said Robert O’Toole, town attorney, “but ultimately when it’s done, it should improve business along Niagara Falls Boulevard.”

How the bridge would look after construction. (photos courtesy of DOT)