A major public works and park rehabilitation project that has been happening along the edge of Lake Erie and the Buffalo River is on the verge of hitting a significant milestone on Saturday and Sunday, October 5th and 6th.

Back in 2018, the Ralph Wilson Foundation committed to helping reimagine Buffalo's LaSalle Park into a world-class public park, and over the last six years, people have been hard at work making that dream a reality.

Ralph Wilson Park
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The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park is undergoing a $110 million transformation into a safe, vibrant, accessible, and inclusive waterfront park for generations. One major part of this project is the installation of a new pedestrian bridge that spans a section of I-190 and connects the park to Buffalo's lower west side.

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The new signature pedestrian bridge was delivered to Buffalo with great fanfare after its around-the-world journey from Italy, where it was constructed, to its new home in Buffalo. Very soon, this new bridge will be up and ready for people to walk across it.

Ralph Wilson Park
Ed Nice Jackson
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However, before that can happen, the old bridge must be taken down. In order to do that, officials need to close a section of the New York State Thruway.

On Saturday, October 5, 2024, starting at 10 p.m. and continuing until 10 a.m. on Sunday, October 6, 2024, the City of Buffalo, Buffalo Police Department, and New York State Thruway Authority will close Interstate I-190 between exits 8 and 9.

The roughly one-mile section of the multi-lane highway will be closed to allow construction crews to remove the old bridge and install the new one.

City officials warn people to stay away from this section of the New York State Thruway as traffic will be greatly impacted. Detours will be posted for motorists, but avoiding the area is high suggested.

This is an exciting step toward the park's completion, which is set for 2026.

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