By CHRISSY PRICHARD

Express News Staff

Representatives of the Adirondack Park Agency conducted a public hearing on Friday, June 22, in the Town of Webb meeting room, in relation to a variance that the town has requested from the APA. The variance is essential to the town’s plan to construct a pedestrian bridge over the Moose River in order to complete phase II of the TOBIE trail project. The variance is required, since construction of the bridge would take place within 50 feet of the shoreline.

Keith McKeever, public information officer for the APA conducted the hearing, first allowing Project Engineer Chuck White and Environmental Scientist Todd Philipps of the engineering firm Barton and Loguidice (B&L) to explain the proposed bridge project and make their case for the variance to be granted.

The proposed bridge is 120 feet in length and 12 feet wide, and would be built on an existing abandoned railroad bed, utilizing existing abutments that once conveyed railroad tracks across the Moose River. One end of the bridge would connect with Hemlock Street in Thendara and the other end would connect with Pullman Avenue in Old Forge.

In order for this portion of the TOBIE trail to be completed and connect Thendara with Old Forge, it must cross the Moose River at some point. Utilizing an existing bridge, such as Green Bridge or the bridge on State Route 28, for the trail is not feasible, since DOT would require widening either of these bridges to accommodate a pedestrian trail, which would come at a much higher cost and would create a greater environmental impact. Using the existing bridge abutments and rail corridor would create the least environmental impact, and would allow for rehabilitation and stabilizing of the abutments, which have begun to erode and deteriorate. Using this existing path would also decrease the amount of trees and vegetation that would have to be removed in order to construct the trail.

From a safety standpoint, this route would allow those using the trail a safer way to get from Thendara to Old Forge, and vice versa, since the trail would provide users a year round alternative to using the existing highly trafficked roadways.

In planning the bridge project, B&L also considered the aesthetics of the bridge, incorporating measures that would help the bridge blend in with the surrounding scenery. A proposed bridge rendering was shown, to give people an idea of what the bridge would look like once completed. The bridge would be constructed primarily of brown steel, with wooden railings and decking. Any vegetation that would have to be removed in the construction process would be replanted and allowed to grow back to its natural state.

Motorized vehicles would not be permitted on the trail or the bridge, which is something that would have to be enforced by local police.

After the presentation was made by B&L, Project Review Officer Tracy Darrah and Attorney  Mitch Goroski of the APA had the opportunity to ask clarification questions. They questioned the width of the access points to the trail and the bridge, which are proposed to be five feet, six inches wide. An opening of this width would not make it physically impossible for snowmobiles to access the trail or the bridge.

They also asked when work would potentially begin on the bridge. It was stated that site prep could begin this fall, along with the portions of the trail that lead up to either end of the bridge. It is anticipated that the actual bridge itself would be constructed in the spring and summer of next year.

They asked if funding was in place for the project, to assure that if the variance were granted that the project would have the funding necessary to move forward. Webb Supervisor Ted Riehle stated that the town has all the funding that would be required to complete the proposed project.

They asked about the measures that would be used to stabilize the existing bridge abutments. Stone fill would be added around the bases of the abutments to combat existing erosion, the stone abutments would be re-grouted where necessary to stabilize the structures, and vegetation would be planted to stop the erosion that is currently taking place on the river bank.

Darrah then went over the factors that have been considered by her team of legal staff while reviewing the application materials, explaining the determinations that were made thus far, which were presented as recommendations to the APA board.

About 15 members of the public attended the hearing, many of whom took the opportunity to make comments about the project. Most spoke in support of the project, however some concerns were brought up, particularly by those owning property adjacent to the proposed trail and bridge.

Concerns included keeping snowmobiles and other motorized vehicles from accessing the trail, how the decking would be maintained in the future, what would keep people from jumping off the bridge, who would maintain the trail and keep it clean, which trees would need to be removed, and that the proposed wooden railing along the trail and bridge may be considered unattractive to some.

B&L then made their closing statement, explaining that local law enforcement would be responsible for keeping motorized vehicles off the trail, although the plans could be altered to reduce the width of the openings that allow access to the trail. The town would be responsible for cleaning and maintenance of the bridge and trail, and the 54 inch railings would discourage people from jumping off the bridge. They stated that as few trees as possible would be removed and that the project included reseeding of areas long the riverbank. Areas adjacent to the trail would be returned as close as possible to their natural state.

The variance application and the contents of this public hearing will be deliberated at the next meeting of the APA, to be held on July 12 and 13 at their headquarters in Ray Brook. At this time they will determine if the variance will be granted or not. The meeting will be webcast live on the APA website, so the public can “sit in” on the meeting. The live webcast can be found on the website apa.ny.gov/. Once on the website, click on webcasting. Webcasts are also archived on the site, so they can be viewed at anytime after the meeting as well.