For Immediate Release: 03/18/2021

Contact:
Michael R. Flick, P.E. | michael.flick@dot.ny.gov | (315) 785-2218
Region 7 Press Office
www.dot.ny.gov

STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ANNOUNCES START OF PROJECT

TO REPLACE STATE ROUTE 26 BRIDGE OVER DEER RIVER IN LEWIS COUNTY
 
New Concrete Span Will Improve Travel and Enhance Safety Along Key Route for
North Country Motorists
 
New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez today
announced that work has begun on a project to replace the State Route 26 Bridge over Deer
River in the Town of Denmark, Lewis County. The project will replace the existing bridge, which
was built in 1932, with a modern span featuring concrete beams and road surfaces that will
improve travel and enhance safety along an important roadway for the flow of people and
commerce in the North Country. State Route 26 is a key conduit for the transport of local
agricultural products and is also widely used by motorists traveling to and from the Fort Drum
military base. The bridge is located between County Route 12 (Station Road) and County Route
55 (Deer River Road) in Lewis County.
 
"New York State is investing like never before in a resilient and sustainable, 21st Century
transportation infrastructure network that meets the needs of our local communities and benefits
all New Yorkers,” said Commissioner Dominguez.  “This new bridge in Lewis County will
enhance safety and improve travel conditions for motorists across the North Country and help
keep the region’s economy growing.”
 
The new bridge will feature 6-feet-wide shoulders in both directions to provide additional room
for cyclists and pedestrians. A transparent acrylic barrier will be installed to help prevent spray
from a nearby waterfall from settling on the roadway. The extensive use of concrete in the
structure will also help minimize the water’s corrosive impacts.
 
The $2.8 million project will also upgrade the approaches to the bridge and install new guiderail.
New signs and road markings will also be added.
 
During construction, one travel lane will be maintained via a temporary bridge with alternating
traffic controlled by signals. Additional lane or shoulder closures may also be needed to facilitate
work operations with traffic controlled by flaggers. Work on the project is expected to be
complete by the end of December 2021.
-more-

50 Wolf Road, Albany, NY 12232 │ www.dot.ny.gov

Motorists are urged to slow down and drive responsibly in work zones. Fines are doubled for
speeding in a work zone.  Convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could
result in the suspension of an individual’s driver license.
 
For up-to-date travel information, call 511, visit www.511NY.org or download the free 511NY
mobile app.
 
Follow New York State DOT on Twitter: @NYSDOT and @NYSDOTWatertown.  Find us on
Facebook at facebook.com/NYSDOT.
 
###