Three bridges that provide access to Rye’s downtown have been rated poor by New York state, according to the latest bridge inspection report.
The overpass located at the Boston Post Road and Interstate 287 junction, the Locust Avenue bridge that crosses over the Blind Brook near the Rye firehouse, and the bridge on Central Avenue that traverses the Metro-North Railroad line were all tagged in poor condition by the state Department of Transportation (DOT).
The DOT issued its report on March 31.
The city of Rye owns the Locust Avenue bridge over Blind Brook and has been pursuing funding for repairs, recently securing $5 million through the Bridge New York program, according to Interim City Manager Brian Shea.
Shea estimates it will take up to $12 million to renovate the span.
Not only was the bridge identified as poor from a structural standpoint, but it also requires expansion and additional repairs to improve its flood resiliency, according to a Flood Mitigation and Resilience Report conducted by the state Department of Environmental Conservation and state Office of General Services in 2022.
The Blind Brook has often risen above its bank and flooded the city’s downtown during major weather events.
“It’s near all of our critical infrastructure, the fire station, City Hall, the library, the Y. It’s adjacent to the business district,” Shea said. “There’s a lot of reasons why this should be replaced.”
The City Council is expected to consider a resolution for congressional funding for the bridge repair at its Wednesday meeting. The city is also pursuing funding through the Resilient Watersheds Grant Program.
As part of its protocol, DOT conducts bridge inspections every two years. The National Bridge Inventory Rating classification of “poor” means that those bridges require repairs or modifications to restore their condition or improve their functionality.
A “poor” rating does not mean a bridge is unsafe, however, according to Heather Pillsworth, a DOT public information officer.
Bridges considered unsafe would be closed to traffic, she added, noting that none of the bridges that failed inspection in Rye meet that threshold.
The overpass at the Boston Post Road and I-287 junction is owned by the DOT.
“A routine inspection of the bridge carrying U.S. Route 1 bridge over Interstate 287 revealed deficiencies in portions of the concrete substructure which require repair,” Pillsworth said.
The bridge is considered safe for travel though, and Pillsworth added that DOT continues to “monitor” it as they “progress plans to address the issues raised by the inspection.”
The Central Avenue bridge that spans the Metro-North train tracks is owned by the MTA, but the agency declined The Record’s request for comment.
The DOT gave all 29 other bridges in Rye a passing grade in its report.
