Auburn City Council has taken the first step toward financing the long-planned replacement of the Lake Avenue Bridge.
Council members on Thursday night held the first reading of a bond ordinance that would authorize the issuance of about $3.1 million in serial bonds to cover the city’s share of the project. A final vote is expected at the next council meeting.
According to City Clerk Chuck Mason, the bridge replacement is expected to cost roughly $10 million overall. The project is supported by a $4.6 million Bridge New York grant and about $1.7 million in state touring route funds, leaving the remaining portion to be financed locally.
City officials say construction bids recently came in lower than anticipated. Four bids were submitted, and three were at or below the engineer’s estimate. As a result, the city was able to reduce its planned borrowing from an originally projected $3.9 million to about $3.134 million.
The council will be asked to approve both the bond financing and the construction contract at its upcoming meeting.
If approved, construction is scheduled to begin at the end of June. The bridge will be closed through the summer of 2027, with a detour in place for drivers during that time.
Officials say the bridge work will be one of several major infrastructure projects happening in Auburn over the next two construction seasons as the city works to modernize and repair aging infrastructure.
