Brooklyn Street Bridge Project Completed at Akron Falls Park

Modified: August 26, 2016 12:55pm

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Date: 
8/26/16

Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz was joined today in Akron by representatives of the Erie County Department of Public Works, members of the Akron Village Board and other elected officials for an inspection of the recently completed reconstruction of the Brooklyn Street Bridge, which enters into county-owned Akron Falls Park.

The 69-foot single span steel beam bridge features a concrete deck with pedestrian sidewalk and railings, which should make traversing that stretch of roadway much safer for both motorists and pedestrians. It replaces the original bridge, which was built in 1957. The bridge functioned well up until 1989, at which point a weight restriction of 15 tons had to be placed on the structure. The weight restriction was later reduced to 3 tons and traffic had to be restricted to one lane. The bridge then was closed to traffic last summer after it was determined the structure had reached the end of its useful life.

“This project is important because the bridge serves as an entrance into Akron Falls Park, which is a popular year-round destination not only for residents of the Village of Akron but visitors from all over Erie County and beyond,” said Poloncarz. “This site is unique in that the Village of Akron owns the road but the county owns the bridge and owns and operates the park, making the completion of this project a win-win for all parties involved. I thank our Department of Public Works and the village officials involved in the planning process and thank residents for their patience after having to wait several months for the bridge to be reconstructed and reopened to traffic.”

County capital funds paid for the project. Contractor work was completed by Hunting Valley Construction, while design engineering and the construction inspection process were both handled by Clough Harbor & Associates.

For more information:

About Akron Falls Park, visit http://www2.erie.gov/parks/index.php?q=akron-falls