Committee raises safety and ownership questions for county bike bridges; asks staff to seek DOT and IDA clarity

Washington County committee members discussed multiple bike bridges and small road bridges where ownership, inspection responsibility and liability were unclear.

Members reported wood decking beginning to pop up on some county‑area bike bridges (one cited near Towpath/Route 196 and another in Kingsbury) and said the condition could cause injury if not repaired. A committee member said, “It is going to be a matter of time before somebody hits it and gets hurt,” and asked staff to contact the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) and the canal/bridge owner to determine who is responsible for maintenance and repairs.

Committee members reviewed earlier arrangements in which some bridges were installed with state or IDA involvement. They questioned which structures had been transferred to county ownership (for example, bridges longer than 20 feet frequently become the county’s responsibility) and whether any memorandum of understanding allocated long‑term maintenance or inspection costs. The committee noted a specific bridge near Lockgate Way and a separate Fort Edward culvert bridge and asked staff to confirm ownership and any outstanding inspection or repair obligations.

Staff agreed to follow up with DOT, the IDA and relevant town officials and report back with inventory numbers, inspection records and liability/maintenance responsibilities.

The committee did not authorize large repairs during the meeting but directed staff to seek an immediate DOT inspection for any bridge where decking posed an imminent safety hazard.