WATKINS GLEN, NY (CortacaToday) – A much-needed upgrade is coming to Watkins Glen State Park.

On Thursday, October 24, 2024, officials began laying out plans for the replacement of the Sentry Bridge. First constructed in 1908, the bridge has been closed since 2022 for safety reasons. Visitors, including 1.2 million people in 2023, have been using a temporary bridge in the meantime.

The new steel bridge will be constructed offsite and installed whole, and it will preserve the iconic arch of the 116-year-old bridge structure. According to WENY-TV, crews will begin the project after July 4 weekend in 2025 to be finished in time for July 4 weekend in 2026.

The photo rendering of the new bridge is courtesy of the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation.