OGDENSBURG -- A bridge delivered earlier this month is an integral step in the plan to reconnect and restore the former railroad ferry dock on the Fort Association property.
The property, located at 22 Albany Ave., has a section that reaches out into the St. Lawrence River and will offer spectacular views east and west, according to Dallas Robinson of Fort La Presentation Association.
The bridge was built by Contech Solutions, located in Fort Payne, Alabama. The bridge was built utilizing the basic design developed by the Mechanical and Civil Engineering Departments at Clarkson University in 2020.
Undergraduate students worked to develop plans for a bridge to cover the span.
Several designs were formulated by students from both the Mechanical and Civil Engineering Departments. Drawings were then presented to the Association for input.
Three mechanical engineering students, Derrick Fouts, Zoe Murray, and Donny Nadon built the 1/12 scale model of the bridge.
"They had desired to give the design a more striking visualization of the bridge than would be found in drawings alone," Robinson said.
The students worked under the guidance of Professor Ron Buckingham.
"We wish to give our thanks to Professor Buckingham, Professor Erik Backus, the Chairpersons of the two respective Departments, and students for their building of a model of the bridge," Robinson said. "The railroad ferry was a vital component for the moving of freight across the St. Lawrence River to Prescott, Ontario, Canada prior to building the Prescott International Bridge . The Ogdensburg-Prescott ferry “operated between Ogdensburg NY and Prescott ON from about 1858 to 1970.The service from Ogdensburg involved at various times the following railroads: Northern, Ogdensburg, Ogdensburg & Lake Champlain, Vermont Central, Central Vermont, and Rutland to about 1908. From 1908 through 1970 the New York Central was the railroad involved. “All About the Ogdensburg – Prescott Ferry | PenneyVanderbilt (wordpress.com)
Robinson said it is believed that the removal of a portion of the railbed was to help alleviate flooding of the St. Lawrence River during high water levels resulting in the necessity of a bridge over the gap. The dock portions of the rail ferry can still be seen, but the island has been allowed to return to a tangle of brush and scrub trees. Some clearing has been accomplished to allow the bridge abutments to be framed and poured.
"Our thanks to T.J. Fiacco and his crew for their outstanding work in the completion of this project," Robinson said.
Placement of the bridge is scheduled for the end of October.
