NIAGARA FALLS COULD BE ‘SHUT OFF’ TO FIX BRIDGES
New York State parks system is proposing to temporarily “shut off” Niagara Falls within three years to allow for the replacement of two 115-year- old stone arch bridges.
The plans would see the American Falls “dewatered” by diverting the upper Niagara River to the Horseshoe Falls in Canada while the work was carried out.
The two bridges, built between 1900 and 1901, provide pedestrians with access to Goat Island, but are deteriorating and temporary truss bridges were installed in 2004 over safety concerns.
If the plan is approved, it would be the second time the US side of the falls has been shut down.
In 1969, the US Army Corps of Engineers diverted the water to allow scientists to study the effects of erosion and the build-up of rock at the base of the falls, The Buffalo News reported.
According to a report, the temporary bridges are an “aesthetically unappealing experience for park visitors.” Niagara Falls attracts around 12 million visitors every year.
But restoring them to a working condition could cost up to $37.3M, the report adds.
Under the proposal, the parks department has come up with three plans - two of which involve shutting the water flow off using a cofferdam.
Plan 1: Would divert the water for five months between August and December. Plan 2: Would divert the water for the entire summer tourism season of nine months between April and December. Plan 3: Would be to not divert water but has effectively been discounted because it is too expensive and would take three years to complete. New York State’s Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has said it could have a design approval in place by the summer and would take two years to complete the final design when funding was in place, along with permits and approvals, with construction taking approximately 24 months.
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