Monroe County Studies Century-Old Genesee Valley Bridges
A federally funded study will assess three deteriorating pedestrian bridges in Rochester's Genesee Valley Park.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in National Parks
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Monroe County has commissioned a federally funded study of three pedestrian bridges in Genesee Valley Park, built between 1916 and 1919. The study follows petitions from the Rochester Olmsted Parks Alliance and other organizations calling for repairs to the deteriorating structures.
Why it matters
The bridges connect the Erie Canalway Trail, Genesee Valley Greenway, and Genesee Riverway Trail, making them a link in Rochester's regional trail network. Repairs are described as long overdue, and funding for construction has not yet been secured.
The study is federally funded and covers three bridges built between 1916 and 1919, now more than a century old. Preliminary restoration estimates and funding recommendations have not yet been released.
The players
Monroe County
Monroe County is the New York county that includes Rochester and commissioned the federally funded bridge study.
Rochester Olmsted Parks Alliance
The Rochester Olmsted Parks Alliance is a local advocacy group focused on preserving the park system designed by Frederick Law Olmsted.
The details
Monroe County commissioned the study with support from the Genesee Transportation Council and the City of Rochester. It will analyze the bridges' ownership and maintenance structure and will suggest construction funding sources.
Timeline
Between 1916 and 1919, the three bridges were built to accommodate the Erie Canal being rerouted through the park.
A recent public meeting included a walking tour of the bridges before the study was announced.
Roadmap
The bridges were built in 1916-1919 to accommodate the rerouting of the Erie Canal through a park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. The current study revisits that infrastructure as the structures reach the century mark and the surrounding trail network has grown.
Visitors using the Erie Canalway Trail, Genesee Valley Greenway, or Genesee Riverway Trail should expect the bridges to remain in their current deteriorating condition while the study proceeds. No repair timeline has been established.
The takeaway
Century-old park infrastructure requires dedicated funding and clear maintenance responsibility to remain usable. Trail users should monitor local announcements as the study's preliminary estimates are released.
Further reading
For more on the park system these bridges belong to, explore National Parks coverage in Rochester.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Democrat and Chronicle.
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