June 24th, 2025
CSX is funding bridge repairs that will last 6-8 weeks
Monroe County Executive Adam Bello announced today that railroad company CSX has agreed to repair the Gillett Road bridge in the Town of Ogden. The bridge was closed by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) more than 18 months ago due to hazardous conditions, which has caused significant traffic delays and impacted emergency response times of local police, fire, and EMS agencies. On June 5, Monroe County attorneys sent a formal demand letter to CSX to repair or replace the bridge or face litigation.
“Over the last 18 months, I’ve heard from countless residents about the negative impacts the Gillett Road bridge closure is having on their daily lives. After many good-faith attempts to get CSX to resolve the issues with the bridge, my administration recently took the necessary step of submitting a formal demand to compel the railroad company to immediately repair or replace the bridge. This situation simply could not continue any longer,” said County Executive Bello. “I am pleased with this resolution and appreciate the joint advocacy of our government partners, Ogden Supervisor Mike Zale, County Legislator Bob Colby, Congressman Joe Morelle, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to make it happen.”
"Just weeks ago, local public safety leaders and I sent a letter to CSX President Hinrichs outlining the safety risks of the prolonged closure, and we’re proud to see that our voices have been heard," said Ogden Town Supervisor Mike Zale. "CSX’s agreement to finally address the Gillett Road Bridge is a major win for our residents and for public safety. This outcome is the result of persistent advocacy and collaboration at every level, and we’re grateful to see real movement toward a long-overdue solution. Restoring this vital connection will improve emergency response times and bring long-awaited relief to families and commuters in our community."
“After more than 500 days of delays and detours, CSX is finally stepping up to do what they should have done from day one – take responsibility for the bridge, its outage, and the repairs,” said Legislator Robert Colby. “The bridge is a vital connection for Ogden families, emergency services, and local businesses. I’m proud of our community for never letting up and demanding action – we’re finally on the road to getting this fixed, and I look forward to seeing it finished.”
“For too long, the closure of the Gillett Road Bridge has disrupted daily life and endangered public safety in the Ogden community,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “I’m proud to have joined with County Executive Bello, Senator Schumer, Supervisor Zale, and all our local leaders to hold CSX accountable and push for this long-overdue repair, and I’m grateful CSX is taking action to restore this essential connection for our neighbors.”
“Gillett Road Bridge is a critical passageway for the Greater Rochester community, and I’m grateful CSX has heeded my calls and will pave the way to reopen this vital Monroe County corridor. Reopening this bridge is key to making sure families can head to town, commuters can get to work, kids can get to school, and first responders can quickly reach their destinations,” said Senator Charles Schumer. “I stood at the bridge last year and called on CSX to reopen this bridge because I know how important it is for the local community. I was proud to stand with Congressman Morelle, County Executive Adam Bello, and Ogden Town Supervisor Mike Zale to hold CSX to its obligations to fix this vital crossing for Monroe County and look forward to CSX beginning repairs as soon as this week and reopening this corridor.”
CSX has hired Winn Construction Corporation to perform the bridge repairs and bring it into compliance with NYSDOT safety standards. Work is scheduled to begin today, June 24, and is estimated to last six to eight weeks.
