Tedisco & Walsh Seek New State Grant to Stop Glenridge Road Truck Bridge Strikes

Senator Jim Tedisco (R,C,I,REF-Glenville) and Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh (R,C,I-Ballston) today are asking the Governor and the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) for state funding to enhance public safety and reduce costs for local taxpayers by helping to reduce truck bridge strikes at the Glenridge Road rail bridge in Glenville.

There have been 57 bridge strikes and an additional 90 near-miss back-ups of trucks that almost got caught in the bridge causing traffic jams in recent years on the state road.  This has cost Glenville taxpayers well over $50,000 for police, fire and highway personnel response.  

Last week, the Governor announced $1.8 million(out of a $25 million state bridge strike prevention fund) to go toward a strike prevention project in Westchester County.  Tedisco and Walsh in their attached letter are seeking a portion of that state fund be used in Glenville to help enhance safety on the Glenridge Road rail overpass.

Specifically, Tedisco and Walsh said state funding could include enhanced signs, electronic adjustable message signs, bridge lighting, communication improvements to help local law enforcement redirect any potentially problematic vehicles, and an over-height detector similar to those that have been implemented in the Hudson Valley and Long Island.

“I’ve asked repeatedly for the DOT to do something to enhance traffic safety at the Glenridge Road bridge overpass in Glenville and now that we’ve learned about this state bridge strike prevention fund, it’s time for the state to take action to potentially save lives,” said Senator Jim Tedisco. “This is not only an economic development issue for Glenville and the 49^thSenate District in terms of impact on local taxpayers and traffic tie-ups on this busy connector between Glenville and Clifton Park, it’s also a public safety matter because heaven-forbid a truck gets stuck under the bridge and its roof goes flying into the windshield of an oncoming automobile. I hope the Governor and DOT make traffic safety as big a priority upstate in Glenville in Schenectady County as they have for the residents downstate in Westchester County.” 

“At this point in time, the Town of Glenville has reported nearly 60 bridge strikes at the Glenridge Road overpass,” said Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh. “This significant number of incidents is not only costly to taxpayers, but also a public safety concern for those passing through the heavily trafficked area between Glenville and Clifton Park. I am hopeful that the Governor and DOT follow through on their commitment to improving safety of New York roadways by taking our request seriously and allocating a portion of the state’s bridge strike prevention fund to the Town of Glenville.”