A wooden bridge that provides one of only two access points to South Buffalo’s Clinton neighborhood is set to remain closed for at least a few weeks, according to a spokesman for the railroad that owns the structure.

Last week, crews closed the 115-year-old bridge, which carries Clinton Road over railroad tracks, with large concrete barriers on each side.

That’s after a recent inspection called for “critical repairs” to the bridge’s structure, which South Buffalo Supervisor Joe Charlton said was partially rotting.

Charlton said the bridge has been a point of dispute between the township and the Buffalo & Pittsburgh Railroad for at least a decade. That’s because the railroad owns the bridge’s structure, but South Buffalo is responsible for maintaining its road surface.

Tom Ciuba, a spokesman for the railroad, said his company had ordered the materials to repair the bridge, but it would be at least a couple weeks before the span could reopen because of the lead time needed to deliver those materials.

“We recognize the inconvenience this is causing for the town’s residents, but we assure them that both the railroad and the city share a goal of reopening the bridge safely and as expediently as possible,” Ciuba said in a statement.

Without Clinton Road, the only access to the riverside village of Clinton is via the steep and gravelly White Rock Road.

Though the road was previously susceptible to flooding, Charlton said crews recently completed a project to take the route out of the floodplain.

Many residents expressed frustration with the sudden closure and ongoing safety concerns surrounding the bridge. On that point, Charlton said, taxpayers and township supervisors agree.

“The township supervisors will be pushing hard for a complete replacement to avoid the cycle of constant repairs,” he said.

In the meantime, Charlton said, the township is planning an informational meeting regarding the bridge for next week.

The supervisor said officials will notify residents once a date and time are set.

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