The Fate of the Ferry Street Bridge

There is a lot happening this weekend at Henry Hudson Riverfront Park--the Hudson Valley Bounty Chili Contest, Pride Foundation Fall Foliage Cruises, excursions to the lighthouse--and with all that going on, one of only two ways to get to the river, the Ferry Street Bridge, has been closed. 

This morning, the Department of Public Works closed the bridge, and the mayor released this statement:

The Mayor of the City of Hudson William H. Hallenbeck Jr., after careful consultation with the Common Council President Donald Moore, and other elected leaders, along with the Commissioners of Police and Public Works, announced to today the immediate, temporary suspension of the use of the road leading to and over Ferry Street Bridge. The action was taken after thorough review of the bridge and recent conversations with the U.S. Department of Transportation of the deteriorating condition of the bridge, and the projected results of an upcoming yearly inspection of the Ferry Street Bridge by DOT within the next sixty days.

The Mayor and Council members believe that the issue of public safety is a paramount responsibility of the City Government prompting this action.

The Mayor formally issued a "Declaration of Closure" until such time as an additional safety inspection or safety evaluation by DOT determines either that access to the bridge should be permanently closed, or that the bridge should be reopened. Prior to the Mayor's Declaration the City was complying with a DOT recommended (3 Ton) limit for traveling over the bridge.

The Department of Public Works will erect barriers to the bridge and the public is asked to respect closure. The Broad Street crossing will be open for waterfront events and activities, and the pedestrian walkway to the side of Ferry Street Bridge, which is not part of the bridge structure, will remain open.

Click here to read the mayor's declaration.