How do you move a 260-foot-long pedestrian bridge from Italy to Buffalo, New York? A barge that will travel through the Adriatic and Mediterranean Sea, across the Atlantic Ocean, up the Hudson River, and into the Erie Canal, of course!
Gilbane Building Company is proud, and so excited, to support Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy as they make history in Buffalo, NY by delivering the Ralph Wilson Park signature pedestrian bridge that will connect the park to the Lower West Side over the I-190. The Erie Canal, once a frequented waterway for people and material goods, hasn’t seen a historical transport this massive in decades, and it’s fitting that it was the final leg of the bridge’s journey as Ralph Wilson Park is built on a stretch of greenspace that was formally an abandoned canal waterway.
By delivering the bridge by barge, it was able to be prefabricated in larger sections, providing cost savings and an easier assembly. Through navigating high storm waters, working with a geotechnical/structural engineer to determine the specific crane needed to lift the bridge from the barge (the first piece alone weighed 60 tons), and ensuring all necessary hydraulics were in place for the barge to safely approach the seawall with enough water tolerance, the new pedestrian bridge was successfully delivered to its new home on #716Day!
Thank you to all of the partners who have helped in the coordination of this amazing feat - Carver Companies Crystal Steel Fabricators, Inc. Cimolai Group U.S. Customs and Border Protection U.S. Coast Guard City of Buffalo, New York, New York State Canal Corporation, Danny's Construction Company, LLC, Port of Coeymans. Stay tuned for updates on assembly as we work to get this bridge ready for public use!
📷 photos courtesy of Stacey M. Cummings
#BuildingMoreThanBuildings #75YearsBuildingNY #RalphWilsonPark #PedestrianBridge #BargeDelivery #ErieCanal