Dewatering the falls: Public hearing set on historic Niagara Falls bridges

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and The New York State Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing to discuss the proposed rehabilitation/replacement of the American Falls Bridges, which connect Niagara Falls, Green Island and Goat Island within Niagara Falls State Park in the City of Niagara Falls.

The meeting will be held beginning at 5 p.m. tonight in the grand foyer and grand ballroom at the Conference & Event Center Niagara Falls, 101 Old Falls St. The goal is to discuss the design approval document, which will provide options for replacing the bridges. Participants will be able to peruse displays and speak with staff from 5-6:30 p.m., when a formal presentation will take place. Written and oral comments on the project will be accepted as a part of the official record during the session.

Currently, there is no funding identified for the project. Once design approval is obtained for a preferred bridge design, State Parks will evaluate opportunities to secure special state and/or federal funding for the bridge replacement project.

The existing pedestrian bridges were built in 1901 and have undergone various rehabilitations since that time. Deterioration required the installation of temporary truss bridges in 2004 to provide for the safe passage across both bridges.

Copies of the design approval documents are available for review and copying at the following locations in Niagara Falls: City Clerk's Office, 725 Main St.; Niagara Falls Public Library, 1425 Main St.; and the State Parks Administration Building, 1 Prospect Park; as well as State Parks' website at: http://nysparks.com/inside-our-agency/public-documents.aspx.