The bridge arrived in Buffalo after crossing from upstate New York via the Erie Canal

Buffalo had much to celebrate today, July 16, otherwise known as 716 Day, when part of the massive pedestrian bridge that spans upstate New York from Albany reached its final destination.

The Ralph Wilson Park Bridge, which began its journey in Italy where it was built, completed the final leg of its 12-day journey on the calendar date that corresponds to Buffalo’s area code.

To celebrate, a community watch party was held at Freedom Park along Buffalo’s waterfront to watch the bridge cross the Black Rock Channel.

The Seneca Chief, a full-scale, traditionally built replica of the Erie Canal boat of the same name, will be there to guide the barge from the bridge to the house, along with Buffalo’s red-headed bagpiper.

Carver Companies, which owns and operates the Port of Coeymans, located south of Albany, used a tug and barge system to move the bridge through 34 locks along the canal.

Along the way, the public was invited to view the barge and many gathered at the Erie Canal to witness this historic canal event that is not seen often anymore since rail freight transportation became much faster.

Being able to transport this large structure by water, at speeds of 5 mph, avoided closing roads to traffic or navigating under low street bridges.

Carver Companies’ tugboat CMT Otter and one of the two barges, CMT Kelly, carrying the 266-foot pedestrian bridge, will arrive first. The second half of the bridge, aboard the barge CMT Hofmann, is stationed in Pittsford, New York, and will be picked up later. So you’ll still have a chance to see the tugboat and barge in Western New York this month.

When installed this fall, it will provide a new pedestrian gateway to Ralph Wilson Park, a 100-acre preserve across I-190 toward Fourth Street. It will connect the west side to the waterfront bike paths.