Nelson Ave. Ext. bridge update

According to Town of Malta Supervisor Vincent DeLucia who met with NYS DOT officials on Thursday, Aug. 11th, DOT said that there will be an INFORMATIONAL MEETING instead of a PUBLIC HEARING in September and that they will leave the bridge intact, but gradually reduce the weight limit. This is NOT good news as I feel it is a stall tactic. Changing to an ‘informational meeting’ indicates that DOT officials have made up their minds and our input will not be heeded. Reducing the tonnage tells me that emergency vehicles, large construction trucks, oil deliveries, etc. would be eliminated and possibly cause a surcharge with the extra mileage. There is also the possibility that at some point they will declare the bridge unsafe and just close it. Previously, they indicated that the bridge was of a certain construction that it could not be repaired. We need to urge DOT to REPLACE the bridge while construction equipment is being utilized on East High St. and Crescent Ave. The cost of mobilizing at another time, or delaying could be more costly. The Governor says he has appropriated billions of dollars for bridge repair at this time. I believe also that there is Federal money that could be used. Write your government and DOT officials to urge them to REPLACE the Nelson Ave. Ext. bridge over the Northway. Please attend the 'informational meeting' proposed for September - date, time and venue to be announced. We need to "pack the hall."