South Buffalo's Clinton Bridge reopens after monthslong closure

The 115-year-old bridge that carries vehicles to South Buffalo’s riverside Clinton neighborhood is finally reopen.

The span, which carries Clinton Road over a set of railroad tracks, was closed after an inspection called for “critical repairs” to its structure in July.

The bridge is owned by Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad, but South Buffalo is responsible for maintaining its road surface.

The renewed access to the wooden bridge will likely take some burden off White Rock Road, a steep, gravely route that provided the sole means of access to the village for months.

Buffalo and Pittsburgh spokesman Tom Ciuba previously said the work involved “timber replacement on a specific span of the bridge.”

Ciuba didn’t respond to TribLive requests for comment for this story.

South Buffalo Supervisor Joe Charlton said the township received permission to reopen the span from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and PennDOT on Tuesday.

Before year’s end, Charlton said, township officials are seeking to sit down with railroad officials to discuss a potential permanent replacement of the antiquated bridge.

But, for now, he said things are back to normal.

“I’m happy to see it opened and hopeful for a long-term solution so we don’t have to go through this again,” Charlton said.