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The 190 going to the north Grand Island Bridge will be messed up until further notice.
The bridge over the 190 at Niagara Falls Boulevard has been closed since November 13 when container on a trailer hit the bridge.
For people coming from Lewiston, Deveaux or the center city area and commuting to Erie County, it costs an extra 10 to 12 minutes with as many as 3 cycles of the light by Home Depot.
State Department of Transportation Spokesperson Ryan Whalen said damage to the bridge, and a bent girder, is still being assessed so it is too soon to predict a timeline for repairs.
“Right now, we are laser-focused on getting it repaired,” Whalen said. “We understand people are interested in the timing of this project because it has a significant impact on commuting times.”
The bridge was struck on Nov. 13. Photos by journalist Rob Bennett show the girder bent. It also appears to be dislodged at an abutment, but that is an amateur assessment, not a comment from engineers.
“I am not an engineer but there is significant damage to the girder,” Whalen said before adding that engineers have adjusted traffic signal timing in the area.
Compounding matters was an “unreported strike” that occurred in July when another truck hit the bridge but no one made the DOT aware.
Asked why it is this bridge was damaged when others, like the one on Niagara Scenic Parkway under the 190 or the train bridge on Young Street in Tonawanda seem impervious to numerous strikes, Whalen had no comment but admitted there has been a lot of speculation among non engineers.
