Ralph Wilson Park Bridge Comes to Buffalo from Italy

The journey from Italy to the Capital Region via the Erie Canal to Buffalo is now complete.

The new 266-foot pedestrian bridge that will allow people to walk, run or bike from the city’s West Side on Route 190 to the new Ralph Wilson Jr. Centennial Park has reached its final destination.

It left the Cimolai manufacturing site in Italy last month, crossed the Atlantic Ocean on a single barge, then was loaded and split onto two barges near Albany so it could travel down the Erie Canal to where it is now.

Officials say the Ralph Wilson Park bridge will be installed on Route 190 in October.

The $110 million transformation of Ralph Wilson Jr. Centennial Park is expected to be completed in 2026.

“This is going to be the best park in town, maybe the best park in the county, maybe the best park in this part of the state,” said Rep. Jon Rivera. “It’s an incredible thing to see and without the Ralph Wilson Foundation, none of this would be possible. For years and years and years, we kind of wandered around this town expecting whatever would happen to happen. But I truly believe that we’ve really turned the page and we’ve really started pushing for the best and the things that we deserve in this community.”

Officials say the bridge design is creative, elegant and exemplifies Buffalo’s rich architectural and industrial heritage.