Mayor Kraham Announces More Railroad Bridge Improvements Underway as Work Begins on Murray Street

West Side Bridges Are Latest To Receive Major Repairs Since Release Of City Report

(BINGHAMTON, N.Y.)—Mayor Jared M. Kraham on Tuesday announced improvements are underway to the Murray Street railroad bridges, marking the fourth major rehabilitation project by Norfolk Southern in Binghamton since the City released a 2023 report documenting serious problems with its bridges.

Mayor Kraham said: "After decades of inaction that left Binghamton's railroad bridges in deplorable condition, Norfolk Southern has now begun its fourth major bridge improvement project in the City in under two years. Our innovative approach to inspect these bridges and put their owners on notice has spurred action by the railroad company to fix a long-standing source of frustration for residents. I promised to hold railroad companies accountable, and these are the results Binghamton residents deserve."

The work on Murray Street includes replacement of the bridges' parapet walls, concrete repairs, new handrails and fresh paint.

Norfolk Southern has now completed major work to the bridges on Glenwood Avenue, Jarvis Street and Front Street. All five bridges were found to be in "severe condition," according to the City's 2023 inspection report.

Work on the Murray Street bridges—rated as being in "poor" condition—started this week. It is expected to last three months.

A portion of Murray Street, between Clinton Street and Gerard Avenue, will be closed to traffic during construction, with detours in place. Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the project.

Norfolk Southern has hired Vector Construction to complete the work.

Earlier this year, the City of Binghamton received the New York Conference of Mayors (NYCOM) Local Government Achievement Award for its work on the railroad bridge improvements.

Efforts began in early 2023, when Mayor Kraham announced the City would hire an engineering firm to conduct visual inspections of Binghamton's railroad bridges. The move followed decades of inaction by railroad companies to maintain the privately owned bridges.

The engineering firm, Binghamton-based HUNT-EAS, released a 900-page report following the inspections that found a majority of the bridges to be in poor or severe condition. Nearly half the bridges were found to have at least one "significant structural and/or safety concern that should be investigated and addressed by the Railroad," according to the report.

The City sent copies of the report to the railroad companies, federal regulators, and federal lawmakers, who joined Mayor Kraham in calling on Norfolk Southern to begin repairs.

The report spurred action by Norfolk Southern officials, who provided the City with a detailed plan to repair some of the bridges found to be in the worst condition, including the bridges on Glenwood Avenue, Jarvis Street and Murray Street.

Crews hired by Norfolk Southern completed a rehabilitation of the Glenwood Avenue bridges later that year, including repairs to concrete columns and parapets, and fresh paint. Similar work was completed to the bridges on Jarvis Street the following year. Earlier this year, Norfolk Southern constructed a new railroad bridge on Front Street to replace one in severe condition.

Most of the railroad bridges in the City of Binghamton are owned by Norfolk Southern. Three are owned by New York Susquehanna & Western (NYSW).

Unlike road bridges, which are the responsibility of public entities, railroad bridges are the responsibility of the private railroad companies and are regulated by the federal government.