Residents express bridge concerns
By ZACH SUBAR, The Leader-HeraldArticle Photos
EDINBURG - A significant public push to encourage the state to build a new Batchellerville Bridge began Wednesday night, when Edinburg volunteer firefighters spoke to a crowd of about 100 about the bridge's new weight limit and how it could affect emergency responders.
The public meeting, organized by the Edinburg Volunteer Fire Department, was intended to give the public information about the Fire Department's new procedures in light of the new weight limit posted on the Batchellerville Bridge over the summer by the state Department of Transportation.
The limit on the bridge, which is old and deteriorating, was reduced to 15 tons, which means some of Edinburg's fire trucks cannot cross the bridge without first pumping out their water. The department's mutual-aid companies, which often come to the scene of a structure fire to help Edinburg, are all relatively far away.
If there were to be a fire on Edinburg's south shore, for instance, Edinburg fire trucks might not be able to cross the bridge with any water in their trucks. That would mean the department would need to rely on the Broadalbin-Kennyetto Fire Company or the Middle Grove Fire Company to get to the scene, and there could be up to a 30-minute delay in them arriving at a fire.
Edinburg has a mini-pumper truck it can use, but that does not hold as much water as some of its other trucks. Because of all these problems, fire officials at the meeting encouraged action.
"If something [doesn't] move on this bridge, it's going to be a major downfall for us," Edinburg Fire Chief Wayne Seelow said.
The Fire Department and Edinburg's EMS group have formed a group called the Bridge of Life Committee, whose intention is to make sure people are aware of the potential public-safety dangers the deteriorating bridge presents. The group is hosting a walk at 10 a.m. Saturday across the bridge. The group hopes to have people line the structure's length.
People at the meeting said they are terrified every day they cross the bridge. The recent closure of the Crown Point Bridge from New York to Vermont has raised the stakes for people like Eva Higgins, who lives in Edinburg and whose four children cross the bridge daily to get to school.
Her family moved here from Schenectady two years ago without knowing about the bridge's situation.
"We love the community," she said. "We don't want to leave. We need that bridge fixed."
Others said they would work to contact their elected representatives to encourage them to find funding for the bridge. The DOT is working to redesign the bridge, and a letter from Supervisor Jean Raymond that Seelow read at the meeting said the state could be ready to seek construction bids in January. Now, the state could be as much as $10 million short of what the redesign would eventually cost.
"I think it's going to have to become political," said Edinburg resident Noel Waldo.
Zach Subar covers rural Fulton County news. He can be reached at ruralnews@leaderherald.com.
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Knickman
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10-30-09 7:33 PM
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It seems to me that people are more concerned about the shape of new bridge than they are about the real ramifications here. Mainly Public Safety!
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hawkeye
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10-30-09 3:16 PM
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Gee, I wasn't aware that GSL was on the intracoastal waterway. I thought there was a****at the lake's outlet. It's too bad Mr. Gibson wasn't at DOT's final public meeting at Northville Central. Not a single person spoke in favor of that 55-foot option. In fact, many wanted a low, flat bridge just like the one we have now. And most of them were not BBAC members, just folks who have to cross that bridge in all kinds of weather What Mr. Gibson calls a "circus" is what others call "democracy in action."
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DaveGibson
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10-30-09 12:10 PM
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Hawkeye is wrong. DOT proposed a 50' high bridge. Sailboaters asked for 55', the lowest height on the intracoastal waterway and a height that sailboat builders consider when designing boats. It was the BBAC who turned it into a circus and dragged the bridge replacement project out for several years. Everyone on the DOT-created bridge design committee endorsed the 55' bridge except one person- a BBAC member. In frustration, DOT settled on a 35' high bridge that no one is happy with. Peter Byron's call for an economic impact study fell on deaf ears at DOT and delayed nothing.
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hawkeye
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10-30-09 9:29 AM
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Dave Gibson has a distorted view of history. He and his buddies at the Mayfield Yacht Club, who wanted a sky-high bridge, delayed the project. In 2002, when DOT announced a preferred design, the Batchellerville Bridge Action Committee endorsed it. As late as 2007, Peter Byron, president of the GSLA and a sailboater, was still calling for an economic impact study. That new bridge would be in place today if it was low and flat like the existing one.
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AUnionist
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10-30-09 8:45 AM
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Remove the bridge and put in a ferry. Might lessen the traffic in the summer on the east shore for all of the NJ property owners.
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DaveGibson
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10-30-09 7:16 AM
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Latest news- the Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund approved by taxpayers in 1991 to fund things like bridge replacements has been depleted by the state legislature who used the money for DOT and NYS Thruway operational costs instead. NYS has a budget crisis and they're trying to figure out how to fund needed highway infrastructure projects. Looking at a list of projects for the next five years, the Batchellerville Bridge is not included.
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Discobulous
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10-29-09 8:08 PM
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Right. Don't blame God. She's not responsible.
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Knickman
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10-29-09 7:51 PM
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First of all "tipsy", the wetland regulations were not even thought of back when the reservoir was created. The problem area for flooding was not downstate but more along the upper hudson down to the Troy area. And please don't inject god into this.
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tipsyturtle
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10-29-09 7:38 PM
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They changed our local environment from a river that God intended to be there, to the reservoir. Wish they had let the lower part of the state been washed out to the ocean. Maybe we wouldn't have had all this trouble up here! We wouldn't have a need for the jerks from the HBRRD, no lakeshore property dilemmas,or the need for that big of a costly bridge! You can't do anything to disturb wetlands in NYS, but what do you call making a river into a lake? NYS created this mess & now should do something to fix the problem it caused!
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Knickman
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10-29-09 6:02 PM
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The emergency services aspect here are real and need to be addressed. Broadalbins fire station is about 15 miles from the bridge, Middle Grove has to come up a big hill and would have to be careful coming down with a loaded fire truck. Providence should be involved as they were when the bridge was rebuilt in 1982. It is too bad that Broadalbin and Providence don't get together and build a station near the county line and keep 1 truck each in it. Even if there are not too msny fireman close by, it would be quicker for a fireman to drive up to such a station for a truck than waiting for one from Broadalbin or Hagadorns mills. It would also help people with their fire insurance in the area around it.
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Preacher
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10-29-09 5:06 PM
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In fact, the Fonda - Johnstown Road - now Route 30A south of the City Line was a toll road. The toll house is still standing - right near the entrance to the industrial park
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Preacher
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10-29-09 5:05 PM
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So because of the Action Committee, no action has been taken. Well, every Action Committee does have good intentions, as far as they are concerned. I think a toll is a good idea. That way the people that use the bridge pay for it.
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Joseph
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10-29-09 4:46 PM
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With the state of the State they may just drain the lake rather than rebuild the bridge (which looked like swiss cheese on teh news last night. I wouldn't dirve on that thing if you paid me to. Good luck to all with the good fight.
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Deerhunter
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10-29-09 4:40 PM
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We put construction on hold because of a few sailboats, and here we sit with an old rotten one lane bridge. It's the typical American way to cater to the minority group and the heck with what the majority wants.. And Stressed, don't get stressed over Jean, she is the best thing that ever happened to Edinburg. have you hired and attorney lately? I'll bet the retainer would be more than whats in Edinburg's general fund!
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Discobulous
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10-29-09 3:00 PM
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Maybe instead of rising in the middle, the new bridge should bowe down in the middle like a U. The old one is starting to now.
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PAM1020
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10-29-09 2:45 PM
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YEAH Dave, maybe if it wasn't for the rediculous height that was proposed 2 years ago we would have a bridge and wouldn't be in this terribly dangerous situation that we are in today!
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DaveGibson
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10-29-09 1:37 PM
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The rebuilding of the bridge was delayed for a couple of years while the Batchellerville Bridge Action Committee protested the proposed bridge's height. Back then, the economy was good and the state and feds had money. Not now.
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Discobulous
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10-29-09 1:10 PM
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Maybe the old fashioned idea of a small toll for continued bridge maintenance (once the new one is built) isn't so dumb. It's a serious matter for fire and emergency purposes.
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sgtwarbucksjr
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10-29-09 12:29 PM
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I"m sure if this bridge had any value to the Democratic Party of Saratoga County it would have been rebuilt and coated in gold by now! But these are just Edinburgh folk, so let em rot.....i guess that's the attitude of the politicians!
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Preacher
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10-29-09 12:18 PM
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The bridge will get attention when a car falls through the deck. Seems to be the criteria for fixing bridges.
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Sarge121
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10-29-09 11:53 AM
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Well, Batchellerville Bridge will probably be put on the back burner by New York State.. The Crown Point Bridge has more traffic and value than our bridge, in the eyes of the state... Having a choice You all know Crown Point will WIN... Vermont being involved will cause Albany to act sooner rather than later.. So we local folk will now jest hafta wait.. Obomas shovel ready projects has broken shovel handles
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Stressed
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10-29-09 11:52 AM
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Has ANYONE ever heard of a lawsuit? MAJOR MAJOR lawsuit??? The super needs to get her act together, AND SOON!!!
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