KINGSTON – Ulster County’s Bridge Crew has reduced the number of county-owned bridges rated in poor condition by 24% since 2024, according to a report released by County Comptroller March Gallagher.
The number of bridges rated in poor condition fell from 45 to 34, the report said. The improvement follows a 2024 review by the State Comptroller’s Office that found Ulster County had the highest number and second-highest percentage of bridges rated in poor condition among New York counties, including New York City.
Gallagher’s review also examined Bridge Crew hours from 2018 through 2025. Sixty-eight percent of the hours were spent on tasks requiring specialized bridge skills, including work on non-bridge projects, while 58% of hours were not assigned to a specific project.
The report recommends that the Department of Public Works identify a project and assign staff time whenever possible to improve workload and resource planning.
Preventive maintenance accounted for a small portion of Bridge Crew hours during the period. Bridge washing accounted for 0.4% of hours, while tree control accounted for 0.5%.
The Bridge Crew also continues to work significant overtime. In 2025, 14% of its hours were overtime, the report said.
The report estimated that washing all 157 county bridges every two years would require the crew to begin work on a new bridge about every three days.
“The improvement in bridge conditions is encouraging, and we need to build on that progress,” Gallagher said. “Bridges are vital transportation links for our communities, connecting residents to work, school, emergency services and more.”
Gallagher said regular washing to remove road salt and controlling brush around bridge abutments can extend bridge life and reduce long-term costs.
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