Cost of Binghamton Bridge Repair Project Rises

Binghamton's Exchange Street bridge is in much worse shape than engineers had believed before a reconstruction project began. The additional needed repairs will increase the cost of the work.

Mayor Richard David said more problems were discovered after the project started in April.

Speaking on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program, David said the deterioration could not be observed until after the reconstruction was underway.

The mayor said the bill for the repairs will rise but it's difficult to know by how much. He estimated the added cost might be about $200,000. The project price tag initially had been pegged at nearly $3 million.

David said although more work must be done on the bridge, he believes the project can be completed during the current construction season. The job was expected to be finished by early September but it's now likely to be wrapped up in October or November.

The Exchange Street bridge typically carries about 10,000 vehicles a day over the Susquehanna River between downtown and the South Side.

While the span is closed to vehicular traffic, a temporary wooden sidewalk on the west side of the bridge is available for pedestrian use.

The bridge has a troubled history. In 1970, a Binghamton public works employee was killed when the street sweeper he was driving fell through a section of sidewalk into the icy river.