Waterfront - Table of
Contents .................................
Niagara
Street Industrial Heritage
Ferry Street Lift
Bridge
Foot
of Ferry Street (renamed
Robert Rich Way), Buffalo, NY
At I-190, head south toward Buffalo. Exit off Ontario Street and turn right onto Niagara Street. Take a right on Ferry Street (renamed Robert Rich Way) to access the Ferry Street Bridge which is the connector to Broderick Park, Unity Island (former Squaw Island) and the Bird Island Pier.
Design:
Bascule bridge: A type of bridge with a pivoting section that is raised and lowered using counterweights.
Built:
1913
Builder:
Strauss Bascule Bridge Co. of Chicago
2016 restoration:
Replaced structural steel, replaced sidewalks, and painted
TEXT (Beneath Illustrations)
View north  Black Rock Channel ... Photo taken from Broderick Park   Left: Unity Island (former Squaw Island) Right: Interstate 190 (site of Erie Canal and towpath)  The bridge is lifting to allow the Miss Buffalo II to pass.   Fulcrum   Photo taken as the Miss Buffalo II passes under the lifted bridge |
View south  View from Niagara Street ... One of a number of Rich Products buildings at the left, with the Rich Products bridge connecting to another Rich Products building to the north  Photo taken from the Rich Products parking lot when the bridge is a lowered postition  Photo taken from Broaderick Park ... Note the huge concrete counterweight at the left that allows the bridge to be lifted  Photo taken from the Rich Products parking lot when gthe bridge is raised to allow a boat to pass by  Peace Bridge in the background  Photo taken from the Rich Products parking lot |
| Bascule (bass CULE) This is also called a bascule bridge. In mechanics an apparatus on the principle of the seesaw, in which one end rises as the other falls. Bascule bridge, a counterpoise or balanced drawbridge, which is opened by sinking the counterpoise and thus lifting the footway into the air. |
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Black Rock Channel The Black Rock Channel extends from Buffalo Harbor to the Black Rock Lock. The waterway is 3 and 1/2 miles long and its navigation channel is at least 200 feet wide at all points. The lock and channel permit pleasure craft and commercial vessels up to 625 feet long with drafts up to 21 feet. The passage of commercial vessels is scheduled by radio from the Black Rock Lock. The channel is crossed by three bridges: the Peace Bridge, the Ferry Street Bridge and the International Railway Bridge.
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