WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — New York State plans to replace the current Sentry Bridge at the entrance of Watkins Glen State Park with the work set to begin early next summer.
Crews will build a “new, sustainable” span to last through the next 100 years, replacing the 1908 span that has been “compromised by time and weather,” the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) announced on Oct. 24.
Construction is expected to begin July 7, 2025, and the bridge is anticipated to reopen prior to July 4, 2026.
During construction, the Gorge Trail and 15 waterfalls will be accessible from North Rim Trail starting at the main entrance. Throughout the project, shuttle service will be available, the park’s pool will remain open, and the gift shop and north entrance concession will also be open to the public, OPRHP noted.
About the new bridge
The new design came from a team led by the New York City studios of schlaich bergermann partner (sbp) and Snøhetta. Since it has a tight access location, removal of the current bridge will take time, OPRHP said. Crews will construct the new bridge off-site and will then lift it into place in one piece.
The effort means it will be completed sooner and “bring less disturbance to the site overall” with an estimated cost of $7.5 million from NY Works funding, per the OPRHP announcement.
OPRHP says it conducted a study that determined a full replacement of the Sentry Bridge is needed to address unstable rock conditions. The current footbridge was made of concrete with stone veneer cladding.
The new, lightweight bridge “reinterprets the historic arch” with a contemporary half-arch made of durable stainless steel. The office went on to say, “It will tie in the natural landscape with state-of-the-art materials. The bridge will now rely on the stronger rock of the gorge’s north side for support, creating an enduring new symbol for Watkins Glen State Park.”
“For more than a century, park goers have crossed the Sentry Bridge, taken a deep breath, and gone on to explore the park. This new bridge will blend the natural landscape and keep the gorge as the focal point making the next century just as memorable,” Randy Simons, state parks commissioner pro tempore, said in the OPRHP announcement.