DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
Erie Canal Neighbors Association
HTML https://ecna.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Perinton/Fairport Canal Community Discussion
*****************************************************
#Post#: 1847--------------------------------------------------
The Oxbow Bridge Controversy
DIR By: Michael Caswell
Date: November 6, 2021, 7:30 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
If you've strolled down the Oxbow Trail (off Erie Cr to Old Post
Rd) lately, you'll have noticed something is going on.
A few weeks ago some heavy machinery turned up, Low loaders
bringing earth moving machinery, then several loads of huge
concrete blocks and a load of stone chippings, plus wire,
netting and other accessories.
[attachimg=1]
To back up a little. A few months ago, my wife and I were doing
our daily walk with our dogs along The Oxbow Trail and we came
across a group of school board members looking at the stream
where the bridge had washed out almost a year ago.
See
HTML https://eriecanalfacts.wordpress.com/2018/07/06/culvert-washed-out-in-recent-storm/
They were there to discuss how the school was going to fix the
bridge. They seemed excited that it was, at last, going to have
something done.
The Canal Corporation had suggested they had an old metal bridge
that would do the job, but the idea fizzled out when the CC
maintenance supervisor retired.
The stream flows from Harts Woods underground across the Minerva
Deland Playing field and emerges from the culvert as it crosses
the old original canal, on the east side of the Oxbow trail.
The interesting thing here is that if one looks carefully at old
maps, it becomes obvious that the 'bridge' is on Canal
Corporation property, and NOT on School property.
Apparently, the school had an 'easement' arrangement to allow
the water flow into the Oxbow.
So, the question has to be asked, why is the Fairport School
district paying for the repair/replacement of a canal
corporation bridge?
And how much is this going to cost? The ECNA put a call into
the suppliers of the concrete blocks and were told approximately
$50 per square foot on the face of each block. This came to
about $45,000. Then, apparently, there is the cost of the
precast bridge, as the 100 or so blocks were only to line the
culvert and provide a support for the bridge itself. We'll
estimate that the bridge cost $25,000. Then there is the labor
for this project, and we feel this would be, at least $25,000.
So now we're at about $100,000.
About a week after all the materials had been delivered, we were
told the Canal Corporation had issued a STOP WORK order on this
job.
Apparently, the school district had forgotten they only had an
'easement' and, they needed a CC permit to carry out work on
Canal Property.
Canal Permits take time, and so now, the entire operation is now
stalled.
In summary, we have to consider what is at stake here. We have
probably 20- 30 people wanting to cross this bridge a day. Some
school children, some dog walkers, a few fishermen; all who can
find another route.
THIS IS A BRIDGE TO NOWHERE!
If, in the unlikely situation that a maintenance vehicle needs
to get to this trail, then they can approach it from Old Post
Road.
The ECNA provided a 'work around' which has been operating for
almost two years.
HTML https://wordpress.com/post/theoxbowblog.wordpress.com/3432
So why has the Fairport School district felt it necessary to
spend $100,000 to fix a bridge that they had no right to be
involved with, and make Perinton residents school taxes pay this
horrendous bill?
*****************************************************
Page 1 of 1