NYSDOT opens new Route 73 ski jump bridge in New York

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) has completed the construction of a new bridge on Route 73 over the West Branch of AuSable River in the town of North Elba, Essex County.

The project is part of a $9.9m multi-bridge contract and also part of the $542m Empire Bridge programme aimed at rebuilding the critical infrastructure in the state.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said: "Across the state, we are building new, state-of-the-art bridges to replace vulnerable structures and dramatically improve infrastructure resiliency in the face of extreme weather.

"With Route 73 serving as a critical route to Lake Placid and the High Peaks, reliable and efficient transportation is key to increasing tourism and growing the economy."

"With Route 73 serving as a critical route to Lake Placid and the High Peaks, reliable and efficient transportation is key to increasing tourism and growing the economy."

As part of this project, the authorities have replaced the 85-year-old bridges across the river with the new Route 73 ‘ski jump bridges’.

The new Route 9N bridge over the West Branch of the Ausable River in Au Sable Forks, which is also part of this project, has been opened to traffic connecting the town of Jay, Essex County, and the town of Black Brook, Clinton County.

NYSDOT commissioner Cathy Calhoun said: "The new Route 73 bridge near the Olympic ski jump facility, as well as the Route 9N bridge in Au Sable Forks, are part of Governor Cuomo's historic commitment to improving the Empire State's economy through access to tourism opportunities and strengthened and more reliable bridges and roads for New York's residents and visitors."