Pineville Bridge UPDATE
Fishermen are ready for Oswego County's salmon run, but bridge in Albion won't be
Published: Wednesday, August 31, 2011, 11:03 AM
By Debra J. Groom / The Post-Standard The Post-Standard
A construction crew works on the new bridge over the Salmon River on Route 48 in Albion, in Oswego County.
Albion, NY -- Work on the Pineville Bridge in Albion won’t be done for the beginning of salmon season; the work’s been delayed about a month by a rainy spring. But none of what remains is to be done in the river, so the fish will not be disrupted. Fishermen will have to use detours to cross the river for about another month.
Oswego County Highway Department officials say the tentative completion date for the project is Oct. 28. They had hoped to finish by late September, but the wet spring got in the way.
Michael Bopp, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Conservation, said the remaining bridge work is all structural and above the river, so the salmon run from Lake Ontario up the river will not be disturbed. The salmon could begin running any time now, and the run peak in late September or early October, Bopp said.
The bridge over the Salmon River on County Route 48 between Pulaski and Altmar was torn down last October at the beginning of salmon season, resulting in some consternation among fishermen and local businesspeople.
The bridge is a key spot for people who want to cross the river to reach various fishing areas. Fishermen have to cross the river at Altmar or Pulaski — about 8 to 10 miles either way.
Oswego County Highway Superintendent Kurt Ospelt confirmed crews rebuilding the bridge are behind. They are trying to catch up and may work double shifts. The bridge, built in 1940, is 228 feet long.
A view of the bridge under construction on Route 48 in Pineville, off Route 13 between Pulaski and Altmar.
Brenda Littlejohn, owner of Brenda’s Motel on County Route 48 on the north side of the river, said last year that she would lose thousands of dollars with the bridge being out. But last week, she said it wasn’t as bad as she thought because detour signs were up, and people found their way to her business.
She also said the detours still are up, so a one-month delay in opening the bridge shouldn’t deter fishermen this year, either.
A 2007 statewide angler survey estimated more than 2.6 million fishing days were expended on Lake Ontario and major tributaries, such as the Salmon River. The estimated value of these fisheries exceeded $112 million to local New York economies. A study done by Cornell University researchers called “Lake Ontario Sportfishing: Trends, Analysis and Outlook” shows fishing brought $16.5 million to Oswego County in 2007.
In addition to the Pineville Bridge, a smaller bridge over Fish Creek in Schroeppel also has been replaced. That bridge, on county Route 54, is only about 8 feet long. The work is almost done.
Also this summer, highway crews have repaved nearly 30 miles of county roads.
Contact Debra J. Groom at
dgroom@syracuse.com, 470-3254 or 251-5586.