Goshen, N.Y. - Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus participated in a ceremonial ribbon cutting on Thursday to celebrate the re-opening of the Corwin Bridge in Mount Hope.
Chairman of the Legislature Steve Brescia, Legislators Janet Sutherland and Barry Cheney and Department of Public Works (DPW) Commissioner Erik Denega also attended the event.
“I’m pleased that the Corwin Bridge has been revitalized in a safe and fiscally responsible manner,” Neuhaus said. “We know how important this bridge is to residents and we are glad to see it fully opened again. Construction was performed in a timely manner and I’m proud that our DPW team took the initiative to repurpose the panels from the Tappan Zee Bridge and save taxpayers money.”
The completion of this project makes Orange County one of the first counties in the State to utilize repurposed panels salvaged from the Tappan Zee Bridge when it was dismantled last summer. The panels considerably shortened the project’s construction timetable and reduced its cost by more than $160,000.
The Corwin Bridge carries County Route 11, known as Mount Hope Road, over the Shawangunk Kill in the Town of Mount Hope.
In May, Orange County became the first County in New York State to receive panels from the Tappan Zee Bridge after it was dismantled last summer. The New York State Thruway Authority delivered 14 of the 150 panels to Orange County. Each panel is worth approximately $55,000. The rest of the panels, which are approximately 13 feet by 50 feet, 8.5 inches thick and weigh 50 tons each, were distributed throughout the State.
The construction of the Corwin Bridge took just under three months.
“Speaking for myself and the residents of Mount Hope, we are thrilled to have the Corwin Bridge open,” Sutherland said. “I am proud that Mount Hope is a model for infrastructure modernization and fiscal responsibility. It is important that we continue to update any infrastructure that requires it, not only within my district, but throughout the County.”
For more information, contact Justin Rodriguez, Assistant to the County Executive for Communications and Media Relations at 845.291.3255 or jrodriguez@orangecountygov.com.
###