Artist's drawing of how the walkway will look

POUGHKEEPSIE – The state budget includes $8 million to renovate the Poughkeepsie-Highland Railroad Bridge into the Walkway Over the Hudson.

With that funding – and another like amount is anticipated next year to cover the cost of the project – work will commence this spring.

Walkway organization President Fred Schaffer said they will sign a contract shortly to remove the existing deck on the structure.

At the same time, they will sign a contract to start construction of a pre-cast concrete deck, which will take about four months to assembly. Then, that will be shipped to the area with about 1,000 feet installed this year and the remainder laid down year, he said.

The bridge was knocked out of commission by a devastating fire in the early 1970s.

The state budget also provides another $1.25 million for the bridge project secured by Senator Stephen Saland, a Poughkeepsie Republican.

The budget also includes $1.5 million for the Long Dock Beacon project, which will see Foss Group Beacon, LLC and the Scenic Hudson Land Trust, Inc. develop an $85 million project including a hotel and conference center.