Rebuilt Cohoes Waterford Bridge set to see first vehicles

COHOES, N.Y. » After months of traffic delays, the first vehicles will soon begin crossing the new Cohoes Waterford Bridge.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a news release Wednesday the one lane of traffic was expected to begin using the new bridge that spans the Mohawk River between Albany and Saratoga counties as early as Wednesday night, depending on the weather. as approach work is completed to align Route 32 with the bridge. When completed, the bridge will carry three lanes of traffic — two southbound and one northbound — the same as the existing span.

“The Cohoes Waterford Bridge will continue to provide an important link between Albany and Saratoga counties,” said state Department of Transportation Commissioner Matthew Driscoll, “and complements investments we are making in both Cohoes and Waterford, including the planned Cohoes Gateway project and the ongoing rehabilitation of the 126th Street Bridge carrying Route 4 over the Hudson River between Waterford and Troy.”

Work began in February 2016 on the new bridge, which was built about 80 feet east of the existing structure, and is expected to continue through the fall, including off-road work and demolition of the old bridge. Motorists should continue to watch for offpeak lane closures and flaggers throughout the remainder of the work.

Driscoll said the new bridge was built as part of the $542 million Empire Bridge Program, which is administered by the state Department of Transportation and will replace 100 aging structures across the state. He said the span will be more resilient and better able to withstand flooding, reducing the potential for travel delays and detours during heavy rains and floods and ensuring continued access to critical lifesaving services in the event of an emergency.

More than 16,000 motor vehicles use the Cohoes Waterford Bridge daily.