What began as a coordinated effort to modernize two aging crossings connecting Amherst and Clarence has earned recognition as one of Western New York's premier public works achievements. The Replacement of North French Road and County Road Bridges received a 2025 Public Works Project of the Year Award from the American Public Works Association (APWA) New York State Chapter, Western New York Branch, in the Structures Category for projects under $5 million.
Crossing scenic waterways in Erie County, North French Road and County Road provide a vital east-west connection between the towns of Amherst and Clarence. The two bridges, which serve thousands of travelers each day, had reached the end of their service life, prompting Erie County to engage CHA to develop a coordinated replacement strategy that would improve safety, reliability, and long-term corridor resilience.
To maximize efficiency and value, CHA consolidated both bridge replacements into a single construction contract, leveraging similar site conditions and corridor characteristics to streamline design, reduce costs, improve bid competitiveness, and simplify construction oversight. The replacement structures feature durable prestressed concrete beam superstructures and warm-mix asphalt approaches designed to support long-term performance while reducing future maintenance needs.
These modernized crossings provide safer, more resilient transportation infrastructure that improves mobility, reduces maintenance demands, and supports the continued connectivity and economic vitality of the Amherst-Clarence corridor. The project demonstrates how innovative project delivery and thoughtful engineering can create lasting value for communities while maximizing the return on public infrastructure investments.
Explore the innovative delivery approach behind this award-winning bridge replacement project.
The American Public Works Association (APWA) serves professionals in all aspects of public works, making it an effective voice of public works throughout North America. With a worldwide membership of more than 32,000, APWA includes personnel from local, county, state/province, and federal agencies, as well as private sector personnel who supply products and services to those professionals. APWA is a not-for-profit organization that provides varied educational and networking opportunities to help public works personnel grow in their professionalism and improve the quality of life in the communities they serve. Learn more at APWA's official website.