LIBERTY – The Sullivan County Division of Public Works held a public information meeting on June 17 at the Liberty Senior Center to discuss the proposed replacement of Sullivan County Bridge No 51, which carries Briscoe Road over the Swan Lake outlet near state Route 55.

The project, funded primarily through the NYSDOT BridgeNY program with state and federal support, is currently in the design phase with engineering firm Barton and Logidice DPC officials explaining that the 1959 era bridge has reached the point where structural deterioration and hydraulic limitations require full replacement rather than continuing maintenance or partial rehabilitation.

According to project materials, the bridge carries approximately 4,000 vehicles per day and has an inspection rating indicating moderate but progressing deterioration. Issues identified include corrosion of steel beams, aging protective coatings, and scour around substructure elements discovered during recent inspections. Officials noted that while the bridge remains safe its remaining service life is limited without intervention.

The preferred alternative presented is full replacement of the structure with a modern single span bridge designed for a 75-year service life. The new design would increase the span of approximately 11 feet, raise the roadway elevation by about 1.5 feet and widen the bridge from 31 feet to 42 feet to improve safety, traffic flow and hydraulic capacity during flood events, planners said.

A major focus of the discussion was maintaining access during construction. Engineers proposed a staged construction approach with temporary traffic control measures, including temporary pedestrian bridge and on-site traffic management to avoid detours onto surrounding town roads and minimize disruption to nearby businesses and the adjacent park area.

Water flow capacity was also a key concern due to the bridge’s location at the Swan Lake outlet and proximity to a privately owned dam. Engineers explained that the new structure is designed to meet 50- and 100-year-old flood clearance standards, reducing debris buildup and improving water flow beneath the crossing.

Residents raised concerns about flooding, the condition of the bridge, ownership of the downstream dam, pedestrian safety and potential impacts to nearby infrastructure, including utilities and landscaped areas. County representatives emphasized that environmental review and design refinement are ongoing and public comments will be considered before final design approval, which is expected later in 2026.

“It’s good that the county is updating the bridge and improving public safety. There’s a lot of pedestrian foot traffic year around at that spot,” said Cora Edward’s, Swan Lake resident and former county legislator.

Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in spring 2027 with completion targeted for summer of 2027 pending approval and funding timelines.