The City of Ithaca and the New York State Department of Transportation are seeking parties interested in taking ownership of the “North Cayuga Street Bridge”, a single-span structure comprised of Warren Pony Truss that is currently located across Fall Creek.
The current owner, the City of Ithaca, in consultation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) determined the bridge is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).
According to the City, the North Cayuga Street Bridge over Fall Creek, built in 1934, is structurally deficient and has advanced deterioration to critical components of the structure. The bridge consists of a 108′-6″ span, 14-panel riveted polygonal Warren Pony Truss. The bridge deck was replaced in 2002 and the wearing surface in 2018 allowing the deck to still be in generally serviceable condition. Various poorly rated superstructure elements include portions of the reinforced concrete deck, steel sidewalk stringers, steel truss and gusset plates, steel floor beams, bearings, railing components, and the overall steel protective coating. Substructure deficiencies include abutment and wing wall spalling and cracking, efflorescence, and exposed reinforcement. The bridge has a recurring yellow structural flag due to the significance of deterioration. The yellow flag is attributed to the 25% to 50% section losses of gusset plates which connect truss diagonal members and transverse floor beams to the bottom chord of the trusses.
The bridge removal cost is estimated at approximately $600,000. This estimated cost excludes the removal of lead-based paint from the steel structure in accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s requirements. In lieu of removing the lead-based paint a quid pro quo agreement to accept liability for the lead-based paint may be acceptable. The bridge foundations would be removed separately by the new bridge contractor.
Interested parties are required to meet certain conditions, which include:
Agencies, jurisdictions, organizations or private owners interested in obtaining ownership of the bridge for aesthetic, historic, recreation, or other uses should contact Addisu Gebre at (607) 274-6530 or email at [email protected]. This contact must be received no later than the close of business on November 18, 2024.
Funding to assist with relocation or rehabilitation may be provided up to the estimated cost of bridge demolition. If an interested party secures its own federal funding, it is noted that any bridge preserved with federal funding shall thereafter not be eligible for any other highway funds pursuant to Public Law 100-17, Section 123(f) (Historic Bridges).
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