WARNERS — After nearly a year of fielding pleas from local elected officials, the New York State Thruway Authority announced June 2 that it will replace the Canton Street Bridge over the Thruway.
“After hearing from residents and meeting with local leaders, the Authority committed to a thorough re-evaluation process that would determine a final plan to meet both local and state transportation needs,” Thruway Authority Executive Director Matt Driscoll said in a statement. “The new bridge will enhance the overall safety for traffic both on the Thruway and the local road, and include increased vertical clearance to meet current engineering standards, new guiderail, reflective line striping, and maintain pedestrian access.”
A public information session about the project will be held in the fall. Construction is expected to begin in 2022.
The bridge, originally constructed in 1954, had been deteriorating in recent years and the Thruway Authority had been leaning toward removing it.
In July 2020, the Van Buren Town Board passed a resolution urging the Thruway Authority to consider rehabilitation or replacement of the bridge. The Onondaga County Legislature followed suit with a similar resolution in March 2021, adding that the proposal would “negatively impact commercial and industrial businesses, as well as property values within the hamlet of Warners, towns of Camillus and Van Buren.”
Local leaders at the town, county and state levels reacted positively to the Thruway Authority’s announcement.
“We are very appreciative that the Thruway Authority was able to accommodate this project and stand by the commitment which was made to the community in the 1950s,” Van Buren Town Supervisor Claude Sykes said in a statement. “On behalf of the residents of the hamlet of Warners and the town of Van Buren and the greater community, we want to thank Thruway Director Driscoll and his team for their efforts in finding a way to maintain this vital link which will maintain public safety and quality of life for our residents and help to sustain our businesses.”
“Great news for the area that the Thruway has decided to replace the Canton Street Bridge,” Onondaga County Legislator Ken Bush Jr. told the Messenger. “I am glad I was able to be part of the effort and I appreciate that my fellow county legislators passed a resolution in support of replacing the bridge.”
Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli, chair of the NYS Assembly’s Transportation Committee, said the replacement of the bridge “is an excellent example of the Thruway Authority and the local municipalities working together for the best interest of the residents.”
