TUSTEN – Major construction has been completed on a $2.5 million project to replace the bridge carrying Route 97 over the Ten Mile River in the Town of Tusten.
The new bridge, which is wider than the original structure, will enhance safety and ease travel along the roadway, which is also known as the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway and provides access to the scenic vistas and many recreational opportunities of the Delaware River Valley.
Senator Jen Metzger said, “I am pleased that the New York State Department of Transportation has completed its work replacing the Route 97 bridge over the Ten Mile River, along this beautiful stretch of the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway. The new bridge will greatly improve safety and the flow of traffic for residents and the many year-round visitors to western Sullivan County.”
The project was designed to be consistent with the transportation section of the 2002 Upper Delaware Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan, which seeks to keep Route 97 safe for cars, bikes, and pedestrians while also open to commercial traffic.
The new bridge is eight feet wider than the old span and provides wider shoulders and additional room for pedestrians and bicycles.
A temporary two-lane bridge was constructed at the site during construction to minimize traffic impacts while work progressed.
