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Work on a town of Dunkirk bridge has been officially completed.
New York state Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez Friday said the $3.4 million project on State Route 5 replaced the nearly 100-year-old bridge over Canadaway Creek with a modern structure that will enhance safety and ease travel for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians along this important road in Western New York. This stretch of State Route 5 is part of the historic Great Lakes Seaway Trail and is a popular route for sightseers as well as local commuters and commercial vehicles traveling through the scenic Lake Erie corridor.
"State Route 5 is an integral part of everyday life for the people who live along this stretch of Chautauqua County as well as the many visitors who come to take in the area's natural beauty and charm," Commissioner Dominguez said. "Thanks to Governor Hochul's commitment to making smart investments in our infrastructure and public safety, this project delivered a bridge that's built to last while also making the route more accessible for bicyclists and pedestrians."
The project included construction of a new 115-foot-long by 43-foot-wide bridge with one lane of traffic in each direction and new eight-foot shoulders to better accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians. Work also included stabilization of the banks of Canadaway Creek to help minimize erosion. The adjacent Canadaway Creek Nature Sanctuary was not impacted by the project.
“It is with great relief that this well-traveled bridge along the Seaway Trail reached its completion before the deadline that was given to us,” Dunkirk Town Supervisor Shari Miller said. “The Chautauqua County NYSDOT team was great to work with and very responsive to our concerns. When we needed more signage, they responded immediately. I am very happy to have traffic flowing again.”
The new bridge also features an enhanced steel protection system designed to prevent corrosion and extend the structure's service life. The process included spraying molten metal onto the steel girders, combined with a new specialized paint technology to provide added protection against the elements and improve the bridge's long-term durability.
Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel said, "This $3.4 million investment is a win for Chautauqua County and everyone who relies on Route 5. The new Canadaway Creek bridge improves safety and strengthens a vital connection for our residents, businesses, and visitors traveling along the beautiful Lake Erie shoreline. I want to thank the New York State Department of Transportation for making this project a reality. Investments like these are essential to keeping our communities connected and our region moving forward."
The bridge crosses Canadaway Creek, a waterway with a notable place in local history. A nearby historical plaque commemorates the area as the site where the first exchange of hostilities in the War of 1812 occurred at the mouth of Canadaway Creek. The project replaces aging infrastructure while maintaining an important transportation connection in a community with deep historical roots.