The state Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that it will expedite structural repairs on the former Route 219 bridge over Cattaraugus Creek, restoring traffic by early April.
The Jan. 5 closing of the bridge, which spans the towns of Concord and Ashford in Erie and Cattaraugus counties, has been a road to ruin for local businesses that are dependent on the motor vehicle traffic it generated.
"The contract for the structural repairs on the former Route 219 bridge over Cattaraugus Creek will begin immediately in order to restore this local connection for traffic between communities on both sides of Cattaraugus Creek," Transportation Commissioner Joan McDonald said.
A recent inspection of the 50-year-old bridge revealed evidence of a frozen bearing and raised questions about the structural integrity of the bridge pier. The state immediately closed the bridge to all traffic.
The unintended consequence of that action was that the busy commercial district along Route 219 in Springville, from Route 39 south to the bridge, was turned into a virtual ghost town. The affected businesses include gas stations, fast-food and full-service restaurants, food stores, specialty shops and big-box stores like Walmart and Lowes.
Most businesses were prompted to place petitions on their counters requesting that the bridge be reopened immediately. Business owners said they understood closing the bridge for safety reasons, but they wanted to make sure it is made safe as soon as possible.