Putnam County and local officials gathered on Morningthorpe Ave last Monday to officially re-open the Morningthorpe Ave bridge.
The 126 year old bridge had been closed to vehicular traffic since 2008 and to pedestrian and bicycles since 2013 by the state due to serious deteriorating infrastructure of the bridge. A real concern since 2013 was that the Bridge could collapse into the reservoir. During that time there a gas line that was on the bridge that could have caused a catastrophe if the bridge did collapse. NYSEG removed the gas line and buried in under the water way in 2017.
Village of Brewster Board of Trustees Members Mary Bryde and George Gaspar were on hand as was County Legislator Joe Castellano (Brewster) and Carl Albano (Mahopac). Southeast Town Board members John O,Conor and John Lord were on hand for the ceremony as was Brewster Village Clerk Michelle Chiudina.
Local residents can now walk or bike across the bridge to get to the Brewster Metro North Railroad station and Main Street businesses a bit easier.
County Legislator Joe Castellano, whose district encompasses the area said on Facebook after the ribbon cutting “Unfortunately you can't drive car over the bridge, but please take a walk down to the bridge. It is a beautiful spot to view the reservoir and walk to the hiking (bike)path and maybe fish there if you have a license. The views will be spectacular during the Autumn Season”
The Bridge, which connects Route 22 with Railroad Ave leads users directly into the Town of Southeast's Veterans Memorial Field and was rebuilt with a federal grant the County secured in 2017 for $2 million dollars which covered roughly 80% of the cost. Pena thanked the contractors involved for their diligence and attention to detail and bringing the project in under cost, a savings to county taxpayers of over $30,000 dollars saying "It was a pleasure to work with each one of them".
The Putnam County Executive Maryellen Odell and Brewster Mayor Jim Schoenig were unable the event to attend due to previous commitments