By CRAIG FREILICH

NORWOOD -- The Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority is receiving $1.1 million from the state to rehabilitate the New York and Ogdensburg Railway Raquette River Bridge in Norwood.

OBPA Executive Director Wade Davis said rehabilitating the bridge would restore it to full capacity, which could in turn increase revenue.

"The nearly 10 percent economic penalty associated with the light loading of rail cars due to bridge restrictions is significant.,” he said. “This state award will address the Raquette River Bridge allowing heavier loads on one of two major structures on the rail line.”

A report on the bridge’s condition after a comprehensive inspection in 2015 by the New York engineering firm Parsons found that bearings supporting the four spans "appear to no longer be functional and appear to have essentially locked these spans to their respective piers, resulting in displacement and damage to the single center pier and the adjoining abutments," in addition to other problems.

They also found fatigue cracks in a structure at the top of the structure, some shifting of the members resting on stones in the riverbed,

He said similar work on other bridges could improve the picture even more.

“The Authority will continue to pursue funding alternatives to improve the Grasse River Bridge as well in order to allow heavier loads to transit from the Class I rail to the Port of Ogdensburg without weight restrictions,” Davis said.

This award is part of $16.3 million the state is distributing to fund rail and port improvement projects across New York State. Funds are going to 12 applicants, who were awarded the funds through a competitive solicitation process.

The OBPA project was the only North Country recipient of funds through this round of awards.

The Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program provides state investments to improve and enhance the movement of freight goods and support economic development statewide, the announcement from the governor’s office said.

Program funding supports track and bridge rehabilitation to improve reliability; track capacity expansion to alleviate bottlenecks; and the modernization and expansion of rail yards and port facilities.