Dryden’s Freese Road bridge project under review by the state

The project to remove and replace the Freese Road bridge in the hamlet of Varna is in a holding pattern while it is under review by New York state.

Town Deputy Supervisor Dan Lamb said that all of the documentation for Freese Road bridge is with the state “at this point” and is currently being reviewed by NYS Region III’s resource coordinator.

The bridge has been closed since Dec. 10, 2021 due to safety and structural issues and weight-limit concerns. Between 2019 and 2021, the bridge’s weight limit was lowered from 15 to 3 tons.

The bridge was built in 1882 by the Groton Bridge Co. Lamb has said that it is one of the last two-span, pin-connected Pratt pony truss bridges left in America. Aside from the main issues, Lamb said the structure was originally coated with lead-based paint. 

The town is looking to begin the process of removing the old bridge and replacing it with a new, single-lane steel, multi-girder bridge. Lamb said in the past that the town plans to incorporate the old facade — also known as the original trusses — into the new bridge.

Removing the old bridge and replacing it with a new one will be covered by the $2.7 million BridgeNY grant the town received in 2016.

“We’re removing it because it’s not structurally sound,” Lamb said last February. “There’s no new cost to the town on this [project].”

Lamb recently said that there is currently a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the bridge between the town, state, Varna Community Association, the Historic Bridge Foundation in Texas, Tompkins County Highway Department and others.

Lamb said that once the MOU is approved by the state’s regional resource coordinator, the documents transition to the federal highway department for a Section 4F evaluation. Once completed, Lamb said, the bridge project can go out to bid.

“We want this thing finished as soon as possible,” Lamb said. “We think it’s disruptive to the flow of traffic.”

Lamb mentioned that in the past he has expressed concern for emergency vehicles getting to the other side of the bridge across Fall Creek.

“They would have to go completely around down to Route 13,” Lamb said. “It cuts down on response time for residents who live in that area.”

According to documents concerning the bridge, construction would begin in May 2025 and end in November the same year. Design approvals are tentatively set for April this year, with the final design projected to be in place by the end of the year. 

Dryden Dispatch appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In brief:

Village of Freeville elections scheduled for March 19

Elections for the village of Freeville are scheduled for March 19 at the village hall at 5 Factory St.

Polls will be open from noon to 9 p.m. The following candidates are on the ballot:

• Miles McCarty (Mayor, Citizens Party)
• David Fogel (Trustee, Citizens Party)
• Diana Radford (Trustee, Citizens Party)

For further information, contact the village hall at 607-844-8301.

Egg hunt in Dryden is March 30

The Town of Dryden Recreation Department announced that the annual egg hunt is scheduled for March 30 in the village of Dryden.

The event will begin at 10 a.m. and will take place at Montgomery Park on Elm Street. The Dryden Fire Department is bringing the Easter Bunny to the egg hunt as a special guest.

More Easter-based programming will be held at Southworth Library in the village at 10:30 a.m.

Limited hours announced for town clerk’s office

The town of Dryden clerk’s office announced limited hours for specific days in March.

The clerk’s office will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 4-6.

For questions, contact the town hall at 607-844-8888.

Blood drive at Dryden High School scheduled for March 7

Dryden High School will hold a blood drive from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. on March 7.

The event will take place in the middle school cafeteria, which is located in the building at 118 Freeville Rd. in Dryden. To sign up for the event, call 800-733-2767 or go to redcrossblood.org.

Dryden Recreation Department details this year’s summer camp

The Town of Dryden Recreation Department recently announced details for its upcoming summer camp.

Due to construction at Dryden and Freeville Elementary schools, summer camp will be held at Cassavant Elementary School. The camp will run for six weeks between July 8 and Aug. 16, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. There will be 40 spots available for children entering kindergarten to fifth grade.

Camp registration will open in the spring. For information or questions, email recreation@dryden.ny.us.