More than a Bridge

The Centerway Bridge, which links the southern and northern sections of Corning, New York, was constructed in 1922. With its seven spans, 40 ft width, and 710 ft length, the reinforced-concrete, filled-spandrel bridge served vehicles and pedestrians until 1989, when a modern steel multigirder structure was constructed roughly adjacent to it. The intention was to demolish the Centerway Bridge, which had deteriorated over time as a result of the chemical process known as alkali-silica reaction, when the new structure was completed. But the community intervened, arguing that the bridge was part of the city's heritage and pointing out that it was deemed eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. In 1987 the city committed itself to retaining the bridge as a centerpiece of the community. With the bridge showing signs of significant deterioration after the turn of the millennium, the City of Corning recognized the need for a major rehabilitation.