QUEENSBURY -- The pedestrian bridge over Route 9 at Great Escape will open at 8:30 a.m. today, a park spokeswoman said Friday.

The bridge will open at the same time as parking lot tollbooths, about 1-1/2 hours before the park's official 10 a.m. opening time, said Diane O'Connor, public relations manager for the park.

The new pathway across Route 9 should put an end to recent bottlenecks caused by park patrons crossing at the traffic light in front of Martha's ice cream shop -- much like the one formed just before 10 a.m. on Friday, with a line of cars stretching well south of Round Pond Road.

That traffic light at Martha's will be taken down now that the bridge is accessible.

Aesthetic as well as traffic improvements around the park's entrances and along Route 9 now appear complete, with freshly paved parking lots and an improved intersection at Route 9 and Glen Lake Road.

Originally intended for use last year, the pedestrian bridge was mired by delays caused by shortages of construction materials and state funding problems.

 

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