Watkins Glen State Park visitors can again access the full Gorge and Southern Rim trails after New York State Parks completed and opened the new Sentry Bridge.
The bridge restores access to the park's waterfalls, overlooks and trail network, including all 19 waterfalls along Glen Creek, according to the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
The project was completed in time for the July 4 weekend and is intended as a long-term replacement for the previous bridge. State Parks said the new structure is less vulnerable to erosion, improves sightlines and uses a modern deck surface designed to reduce congestion and improve pedestrian flow.
State Parks Commissioner Kathy Moser said the bridge restores access to the full Watkins Glen State Park experience and will serve visitors for generations. The agency said the project was completed ahead of one of the park's busiest weekends of the year.
The new bridge was funded with $7.5 million in State Parks capital funding. It was designed by a team led by the New York-based studios of schlaich bergermann partner and Snøhetta.
The bridge is made of lightweight stainless steel designed to withstand the gorge environment for more than a century, according to the state. It weighs about 100 tons less than the previous structure, reducing pressure on the surrounding rock formations.
The new span uses a half-arch design that allows the primary foundation point to be anchored on the stronger northern wall of the Watkins Glen Gorge. The design also references the historic 1908 stone arch and uses recovered stone from the original structure in portions of the kneewalls approaching the bridge.
With the bridge open, visitors can again reach features such as Cavern Cascade and Couch's Staircase, the 120-step staircase that connects to trails leading to the South Pavilion and swimming pool.
Watkins Glen State Park is the most visited state park in the Finger Lakes region, drawing about 1.3 million visitors a year. Over two miles, Glen Creek drops nearly 400 feet through a gorge with waterfalls, stone staircases, bridges and scenic overlooks.
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