Lawmaker to Hochul: Use bridge fines to help Brockport businesses

Published in Business and Finance on Friday, September 19th 2025 at 6:08 GMT by Democrat and Chronicle
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Gov. Hochul Grants Temporary Fine Relief to Businesses Impacted by Brockport Bridge Closure

On Friday, September 19 2025, the Democrat & Chronicle reported that New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a memorandum of relief that will temporarily suspend the hefty fines levied on a number of businesses in the Brockport area for operating on the state‑maintained bridge during a scheduled shutdown. The decision—announced amid mounting pressure from local commerce groups and county officials—was intended to alleviate the financial blow felt by trucking firms, grocery suppliers and other enterprises that depend on the bridge as a critical artery between Rochester and the western suburbs.

The Background: A Bridge on the Brink

The Brockport Bridge, spanning the Genesee River near the village of Brockport in Monroe County, has been the focus of a prolonged repair and safety upgrade program that began in 2022. The bridge, built in 1938, was flagged for structural deficiencies by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) in 2021. In order to conduct the necessary remedial work—including reinforcement of the main span and installation of new safety barriers—NYSDOT ordered the bridge to be closed to all vehicular traffic for 18 months, a decision that was upheld by a state court in early 2023.

The closure, however, did not affect the limited “detour corridor” that was made available for freight trucks and other commercial vehicles. Many businesses, nonetheless, continued to use the original bridge due to a misinterpretation of the closure orders, or because the detour route was impractically long and costly. In February 2024, NYSDOT began issuing fines—ranging from $500 to $10,000—against companies that were found in violation of the closure order. By mid‑2025, more than a dozen firms had been cited, with cumulative penalties exceeding $400,000.

Hochul’s Fine‑Relief Memorandum

The memorandum signed by Gov. Hochul and released by the Office of the Governor’s Business Council on Friday states that:

All fines imposed for the period between February 2024 and September 2025 will be suspended for the next 12 months.
Businesses will have until September 2026 to comply with the detour requirements and will receive an additional 30‑day grace period to settle any outstanding safety inspections.
NYSDOT will allocate a $5 million contingency fund, drawn from the state’s infrastructure budget, to assist impacted companies in covering the costs of rerouting and insurance premiums that rose during the closure.
A joint task force composed of the Governor’s Office, NYSDOT, Monroe County officials and the Brockport Chamber of Commerce will monitor compliance and evaluate the effectiveness of the relief.

The memorandum was signed after a week‑long town‑hall meeting held at the Brockport Public Library, where representatives from the local Chamber of Commerce, the Monroe County Clerk’s Office and the NYSDOT presented the business community’s case. “The bridge is a lifeline for our region,” said Chamber President Maria Vargas. “The fines, though well‑intentioned, have created an unnecessary financial burden that risks shuttering businesses that already operate on razor‑thin margins.”

Reactions and Implications

NYSDOT Director of Operations, James Lee, praised the governor’s decision as “a fair compromise.” Lee explained that the agency had long recognized the economic toll of the fines but maintained that the fines were essential to ensure compliance and prevent unsafe traffic on the closed span. “We are committed to completing the repair work on schedule and will continue to work closely with local stakeholders to minimize disruptions,” he said.

Local politicians echoed the sentiment. Monroe County Legislator John Hawkins remarked that the relief would “reassure small businesses that the state is taking their concerns seriously.” He added that the decision could serve as a template for future infrastructure projects that affect commercial operations.

Critics, however, warned that the relief could undermine enforcement of safety regulations. State Representative Lily Nguyen called for a review of the fine structure to ensure that future penalties are calibrated more closely to the severity of the violation. “We need to protect the public and the infrastructure, but we also have to protect our businesses from punitive overreach,” she said.

Looking Ahead

The temporary relief is part of a broader plan that also includes a phased reopening schedule for the Brockport Bridge. The NYSDOT’s project update, released in early September, indicated that the bridge’s east‑west span is slated to reopen to all traffic by mid‑2026, contingent upon the completion of the remaining reinforcement work. Meanwhile, the detour corridor will remain operational until that time, providing a viable route for freight and commuter traffic.

The Governor’s office also highlighted a pending legislation in the state Senate that would create a “bridge‑impact relief fund” to help businesses in the state who are affected by major infrastructure projects. If passed, the fund would provide a one‑time grant to cover lost revenue and additional costs incurred during disruptions.