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Residents urge pause on Swan Hollow bridge work while state reviews historic value
Summary
A public commenter asked the town to delay using grant funds to replace a Swan Hollow bridge after historian contacts and a parks review suggested the structure may be historic; town engineer said SHPO review and archeological surveys are part of the grant design process.
A Town of Alexandria resident urged the board to halt grant-driven replacement work on a bridge on Swan Hollow until state historic preservation and park officials can examine it, citing brickwork and artifacts tying the site to early-19th-century battlefield activity. The resident said he had contacted state parks, the DEC and a senator's office and asked the town to "put a stop on that until we could get all these agencies to look at this bridge."
Town engineering staff responded that the grant process already includes historic and environmental review. The engineer said an informal inspection found the structure "not going to fall down" but in disrepair and that the design and permitting sequence will include archeological evaluation and review by the State Historic Preservation Office before construction can begin. Staff said funding was obtained and the next steps are design submissions and coordination with SHPO; construction would likely come in 2026 under the current timeline.
Board members encouraged the resident to provide any documentation to staff, and officials said they would integrate outside reviewers into the standard grant-driven design and permit steps rather than pausing the application, but confirmed no construction can proceed until SHPO and state agencies complete their reviews.
