State DOT Orders I-81 Pedestrian Bridge in Dickinson Torn Down

A walkway over Interstate 81 linking homes in the Sunrise Terrace neighborhood with Otsiningo Park in the town of Dickinson will be removed soon.

The pedestrian bridge between Bevier Street and Old Front Street opened for use in January 1968.

The state Department of Transportation shut down the walkway without advance notice to the public a few weeks ago.

Town supervisor Michael Marinaccio said there are more than 300 homes in the Sunrise Terrace development located to the west of the pedestrian bridge.

The DOT sent a letter to residents and business operators informing them of what the agency described as "an upcoming bridge project." The message explains the "project" will entail the removal of the walkway.

According to the letter from the agency's Andrew Stiles, winter maintenance of the aging structure had become "increasingly hazardous" so the decision was made to close the bridge.

According to The Evening Press, the walkway cost $312,054 to construct. Over its nearly 55-year lifespan, the bridge was used by a relatively small number of walkers, bicyclists and skateboarders.

The letter noted a new pathway for pedestrians was recently constructed along Front Street.

The DOT plans to remove the old bridge during the upcoming construction season. Some nighttime work will be required for the project. It's not known when the removal will occur.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.