People who lived in or near the underpass site voiced their concern about flooding. In the meantime, contractors made borings and tests, but no work was started. Till and a new board of trustees were elected, they took the opposite position. But again, Mayor Andrews and the board of trustees caused delays because they were adamant about not wanting any of the streets closed. However, the businessmen of Owego objected, saying that it would divert traffic from the businesses in the village.īy the fall of October 1934, the Public Service Commission finally ordered five streets closed with plans to start the underpass in 1937. Instead, they suggested that the railroad company build a lateral road from the East Main Street crossing to Paige Street, south of the tracks so people could simply drive on out through Fox Street to North Avenue.
The village mayor and board of trustees did not like the idea of closing off streets and making them dead-end because it would depreciate the property value. Heavy concrete walls would be constructed and concrete stairs with railings would be built to allow people access to their adjoining properties from North Avenue. There would also be a 14-foot overhead clearance from the road to the 49-foot span of the two-plate girder railroad bridge above it. The approaches would have a 5% grade and the roadway would be 40 feet wide with six -foot sidewalks on both sides. The plan included the underpass to extend from Fox Street to the intersection of East and West Avenues for a total length of 1, 141 feet. The plan was offered by the State Department of Public Works and provided for the construction of an underpass on North Avenue instead of an overpass as first suggested. Loring declined to make a statement.Īt the July 28, 1933 hearing, the first plan for the proposed elimination of the North Avenue crossing was submitted at a cost of $238,800, exclusive of the rights-of-way and property damage. Andrews and village attorney, Benjamin W. After a lot of discussion between the railroad officials and the village board of trustees, nothing came of it. Three months later, on May 16 th, a preliminary hearing was held at the Tioga County Courthouse with forty residents from the affected areas attending. Then, on Februtragedy struck again when Daniel Champlain met his death at the Paige Street crossing.
They first suggested building an overpass, rather than an underpass, but nothing was decided. At a meeting held in November 1932 the Public Service Commission announced the closing of four crossings: East Temple, Paige, McMaster and the busiest one of all, North Avenue, located just south of East and West Avenues. Bell was killed at the East Temple Street crossing. Then, on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1931, James F. To begin, it was after Frederica Ford was killed at the East Temple Street railroad crossing on that the Erie Railroad Company first proposed the elimination of the crossings at East Temple, Paige and Greene streets in the village. Sedore, Tioga County Historianĭid you ever wonder what North Avenue looked like before the underpass was built and why and when?
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