The Erie County Department of Public Works’ Highways Division today announced the re-opening of the Girdle Road Bridge over Buffalo Creek in the Town of Elma.

The $1.5 million bridge project completely replaced the superstructure of the existing bridge, built in 1948, and made repairs to the substructures. The replacement of the superstructure included new bearings, steel beams and diaphragms, a new reinforced concrete deck and the installation of a modern-day railing system with end assemblies.

“The Girdle Road Bridge is a key traffic point in Elma and motorists are sure to appreciate this new structure, which replaces a nearly 80-year old bridge that had reached the end of its useful life,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “Together with the recent completion of the nearby Jamison Road Bridge over Buffalo Creek, my administration has invested over $3 million in critical infrastructure here in the Town to provide the best roads and bridges possible for residents. We are continuing that commitment throughout Erie County and taking advantage of good weather to complete as many projects as possible.”

Work on the Girdle Road Bridge began on March 14 and replaced a 215-foot, 3-span structure with the new bridge. In addition to the bridge work, approximately 1.1 miles of roadway between Clinton Street and Bullis Road was milled and overlaid by Erie County crews working in conjunction with Occhino Paving Corp. at a cost of approximately $225,000.

Work on the nearby Jamison Road Bridge in Elma, a project that involved the replacement of the former 61-year old structure there along with approach road reconstruction and drainage work near the bridge, was completed on August 1.

The contractor for the Girdle Road Bridge reconstruction was Nichols Long and Moore Construction Corp., while Mott MacDonald were the engineers responsible for the design of the replacement bridge structure.

For more information:

On the Erie County Department of Public Works, visit http://www2.erie.gov/dpw/