There will be times over the next four years when we will be inconvenienced by a $78 million reconstruction of the Chautauqua County Veterans Memorial Bridge over Chautauqua Lake.

The alternatives, however, are worse than inconvenience. Not maintaining bridges inevitably leads to catastrophic situations and, 41 years after it first opened to the public in 1982 it’s time for the bridge over Chautauqua Lake to see some much-needed maintenance.

Initial work will focus on creating crossover lanes to move traffic during future phases. The plans are for one lane of traffic in each direction to be maintained during the bulk work of construction. Those who remember the days before the bridge can surely appreciate the need to keep at least some traffic moving over the next four years.

What’s not mentioned is how the bridge project affects the interchanges, particularly when getting off Interstate 86 in Stow to get on Route 394. Turning left off of that interchange can already be difficult due to the amount of traffic on Route 394 and lead to cars backing up on the exit ramp. During the summer months of bridge reconstruction we can see situations where traffic backs up to the bridge itself. It may be necessary to put a traffic light in at the interchange with Route 394 to keep traffic the off-ramp traffic moving predictably. That’s a situation worth monitoring.

Despite the inconveniences, this is a $78 million investment that comes with no local spending and keeps a key piece of infrastructure operational for decades to come. And, if area residents grow really tired of bridge construction over the next four summers, avoid the bridge entirely and take a ride on the Bemus Point-Stow Ferry when it’s operating and envision a time when there was no bridge over Chautauqua Lake.