Officials say Lyons bridge closure could be permanent

The Leach Road Bridge, a century-old structure over the Erie Canal in Lyons, may face permanent closure, according to Town Supervisor Jim Brady.

He spoke with the Finger Lakes Times this week about the bridge, which was downgraded from a five-ton to a three-ton weight limit before its closure in October.

Officials call it a critical link between Route 31 and downtown Lyons.

Brady, a former Wayne County highway superintendent, expressed little hope for the bridge’s reopening, foreseeing it being indefinitely closed and fenced off.

This leaves the Route 14 bridge as the only canal crossing in the area, signaling a significant change in local traffic patterns.

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), however, has not yet made a final decision on the bridge’s future.

The potential closure of the Leach Road Bridge highlights the broader challenge of maintaining aging canal bridges in Wayne County, which boasts the highest number of canal bridges in New York State. Many of these structures date back to the opening of the Erie “Barge” Canal in 1918, with some having been replaced or repaired, and others permanently closed to motor vehicle traffic.

Staff Report

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