The Haiti Island bridge in Mentz was opened to all-terrain vehicles Friday, offering some help to residents ferrying groceries, water, fuel and other supplies to their homes.
The only bridge to Haiti Island has been closed to vehicular traffic for a week over concerns for its structural integrity.
Mentz Town Supervisor Jack O'Neil said Friday night that two contractors had come to inspect the debris hanging off the bottom of the bridge and to determine what it would take to stabilize the upright part of the structure.
O'Neil said the town hopes to have a total of four estimates on the repair work to look over at Tuesday's town board meeting. As soon as the bridge can be stabilized, O'Neil said, it can be reopened to traffic.
State Sen. Michael Nozzolio plans to meet with Haiti Island residents at 11 a.m. Saturday to discuss their concerns. The Town of Mentz declared a state of emergency Thursday, hoping to speed up the process of having the bridge tended to.
In a news release, Nozzolio said he wrote a letter to state Department of Transportation Commissioner Astrid Glynn Friday requesting emergency funding to rebuild the bridge.
“For the residents of Haiti Island, the closure of the bridge is an absolute emergency,” Nozzolio said.
The bridge was closed last weekend after portions of the old metal bridge fell into the Seneca River, leaving questions as to the safety of a second bridge built at the site in 1990.
The cost of erecting a completely new bridge at the site is expected to be about $2 million.
Mentz Town Supervisor Jack O'Neil said Friday night that two contractors had come to inspect the debris hanging off the bottom of the bridge and to determine what it would take to stabilize the upright part of the structure.
O'Neil said the town hopes to have a total of four estimates on the repair work to look over at Tuesday's town board meeting. As soon as the bridge can be stabilized, O'Neil said, it can be reopened to traffic.
State Sen. Michael Nozzolio plans to meet with Haiti Island residents at 11 a.m. Saturday to discuss their concerns. The Town of Mentz declared a state of emergency Thursday, hoping to speed up the process of having the bridge tended to.
In a news release, Nozzolio said he wrote a letter to state Department of Transportation Commissioner Astrid Glynn Friday requesting emergency funding to rebuild the bridge.
“For the residents of Haiti Island, the closure of the bridge is an absolute emergency,” Nozzolio said.
The bridge was closed last weekend after portions of the old metal bridge fell into the Seneca River, leaving questions as to the safety of a second bridge built at the site in 1990.
The cost of erecting a completely new bridge at the site is expected to be about $2 million.
