Old IBM-Endicott Walkway Over McKinley Avenue Being Removed

The long-awaited project to take down an unused pedestrian bridge at the former IBM Endicott manufacturing site is underway.

Crews from L.M. Sessler Excavating & Wrecking of Seneca County on Monday morning began working to remove the walkway over McKinley Avenue near North Street.

The bridge was used for decades by thousands of IBM employees to easily move between company buildings without the need to venture outside.

The walkway has been out of service for several years after operations ceased in the Huron Campus buildings east of McKinley Avenue.

Chris Pelto, who oversees Endicott site operations for property owner Phoenix Investors, said Sessler expects the work to be completed within two weeks.

McKinley Avenue between North Street and Watson Boulevard will be closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic for the duration of the removal project.

Pelto said "a lot of handwork" will take place initially with masonry elements taken down. A crane then will be used to remove the large steel portion of the walkway.

It's possible the project could be wrapped up ahead of schedule depending on weather and other factors.

Pelto said the other pedestrian bridge further north on McKinley Avenue will remain in place. He said that walkway remains in use.

An engineering firm has been retained to prepare a study on the demolition of unused buildings east of McKinley Avenue.

Issues involving electricity and communications lines must be addressed before those structures are removed. Steam and chilled water lines also will be affected by that massive demolition project.

WATCH video as work on the walkway removal project began.

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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.