The Bay Bridge opened 50 years ago but it was almost a bridge to nowhere as on the Webster side of the bridge it only went as far as Bay Road. The second article in the newspaper states that were trying to push ahead on the route 104 extension that goes to all the way to the Wayne County line. Hard to think now of not having the bridge. Imagine all the traffic that would be on Empire Boulevard if the Bay Bridge wasn’t there

Webster Herald

Wednesday, Feb. 11, 1970

Bay Bridge Opens Gets First Jam up

Amidst snow and sub-zero temperatures, Webster Supervisor, Walter Bradley, and Irondequoit Supervisor, Julian Underhill, conducted an unofficial bridge opening ceremony on the Irondequoit Bay Bridge last Tuesday. Following the snipping of the ribbon, the officials quaffed a bit of California champagne, provided by Underhill, in celebration.

The state reportedly intends to contract a more ceremonious affair later in the year but District Engineer Bernard Perry, of the state Public Works Department did attend this event.

Also braving the cold and snow were several hundred on-lookers consisting of town employees from both towns and interested by-standers.

One of the latter was George C. Hoffmeier, Sr., an octogenarian who has lived at 625 DeWitt Road. DeWitt Road is the first road the bridge traffic encounters when traveling eastward across the bay. Hoffmeier recalls that when he first moved into his present home, school taxes were $5 a year.

With the bridge less than a week old, it had already experienced its first traffic jam (Sunday when thousands of the curious flocked across it at a time). [Missing line] complaints concerning the barring of trucks, the impossibility of entering the bridge from the northbound side of the Sea Breeze Expressway.

– – And some pedestrians were muttering about the fact that no walkway was provided for pedestrian traffic (probably to enjoy the view).

Expressway To Get Priority

“Priority emphasis” has been placed on the completion of the Irondequoit-Wayne County Line Expressway according to a latter received by Assemblyman Donald C. Shoemaker, 130th District from Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller. The letter was sent in response to a communication to the Governor concerning the future of the highway.

“The status of this expressway was recently discussed with the Department of Transportation, I have asked Commissioner Parker to give these further improvements his personal attention and to be sure that the Irondequoit-Wayne County Line Expressway continues to have a priority emphasis.”

The Governor added, according to Shoemaker, that the required public hearings will be called early this year, final design of the project is being completed and plans for the purchase of right-of-way are being finalized.