Big Crane Set Up for Binghamton Parking Garage Construction

Workers are assembling a large crane at the site of a long-awaited parking structure in downtown Binghamton.

The old city-owned garage on Water Street next to Boscov's department store was closed just after Christmas 2021.

The crumbling 52-year-old parking ramp was demolished to clear the way for construction of a 500-car garage topped with a 120-unit apartment complex.

The original $48 million project was scrapped after the Binghamton City School District board of education rejected a controversial tax break plan.

The city then moved to start a scaled-down garage-only project that's expected to cost $25 million.

Mayor Jared Kraham last month said workers first finished closing up the roof area above the Boscov's men's department. A new roof and drainage system were installed in preparation for the garage construction.

Kraham told WNBF News the crane will enable workers to install precast concrete sections that will be trucked to the site from western Massachusetts.

The mayor said the sections "will be erected very much like Legos" over the course of many weeks. He said that process is expected to occur over a 45-day period.

Kraham said after the concrete pieces have been put in place, there will be "a lot of additional work" needed to complete the structure. Some concrete pouring will take place along with electrical and plumbing work for the garage.

The mayor said the goal is to have at least one level of parking open late this year for the holiday shopping season.

Kraham said the first floor of the garage will be reserved for short-term parking. The other floors will be available for short- and long-term parking.

VIDEO: Watch workers assembling the crane at the Binghamton job site on May 1, 2024. 

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.