Belmont, NY (February 16, 2022) – On February 2, 2022, Public Works Superintendent Justin Henry released a statement that Local Bridge 08-07 over the Genesee River on County Route #26 in the Town of Belfast was closed to traffic until further notice. With only three other open bridges crossing the Genesee River north of Interstate 86, the sudden closure of this road has greatly impacted the routing of police, fire, and emergency services, significantly altered school transportation plans, and created a substantial detour for commuter and business traffic.
Governor Hochul’s announcement of $8.6 million for the replacement of the County Road 26 Bridge over the Genesee River in Belfast is very welcome news to Allegany County. Allegany County is thankful for all those, including our federal and state representatives and the NYS DOT, who recognized and stressed the importance of this bridge to our communities. We extend our sincere appreciation to Governor Hochul for responding with immediacy to this critical issue.
We understand that the $8.6 million project is being funded by the NYS DOT through a combination of federal, state, and local funding, and we look forward to working with our representatives to determine what that will mean for Allegany County from a financial standpoint. Allegany County Public Works officials stand ready to work with NYS DOT officials to expedite the design and construction of this important project, and we would like to take this opportunity to thank all involved parties for your support and dedication to Allegany County.
