A 266 ft (81 m) pedestrian bridge has continued its journey towards Buffalo, New York, having crossed the Atlantic Ocean.
BBC Chartering’s multipurpose vessel Aralia was loaded with four bridge sections in Italy. It crossed through New York Harbour on June 22 before travelling up the Hudson River to the port of Coeymans.
Carver Companies then took possession of the bridge and offloaded the sections onto two barges. The bridge, which will serve as the entrance to Buffalo’s Ralph Wilson Park, will travel the full length of the Erie Canal and is expected to be delivered on July 15. Carver Companies’ towing division will manage the journey along the Erie.
Barge transport along the entirety of the canal has become a rare undertaking and the route requires traversing 34 locks. A four-person crew will perform a tandem tow; one tug will tow a pair of hopper barges for the majority of the 370 nautical mile trip.
Ralph Wilson Park is a 40.5 ha waterfront park in the city of Buffalo that has undergone a major overhaul. “This project is a significant undertaking, utilising a vital piece of American history to transport a modern marvel. It’s a testament to both innovation and tradition,” said Carver Laraway, president and ceo of Carver Companies and the port of Coeymans.
Once assembled and installed, the bridge will cross the I-190 highway and the CSX freight rail line, connecting the city’s Lower West Side to the park, with the first sections expected to be open to the public in 2026.
