BILL NUMBER: S6008B
SPONSOR: BASKIN
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the highway law, in relation to dedicating a portion of
the state highway system to the Fallen Skywalkers
 
PURPOSE:
To dedicate a portion of the state highway constituting the bridge on
Route 5 to the Fallen Skywalkers.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the highway law by adding a new section 343-ddd to
dedicate a portion of Route 5 in Buffalo to the Fallen Skywalkers.
Section 2 directs the commissioner of transportation to provide for the
installation and maintenance of adequate signing as dedicated in section
1 of this act.
Section 3 establishes the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The elevated section of Route 5, commonly referred to as the Skyway, was
constructed in 1955 by a group of ironworkers from across the state, who
took on an extremely dangerous job in order to construct the elevated
portion necessary so that ships and commerce could stilt access storage
silos and factories along the Buffalo River. Many of these ironworkers
were of Native American descent, including members of the Seneca Nation.
These ironworkers called themselves the "Skywalkers", due to the
requirement that they work at extreme heights to install the steel need-
ed for the project.
Three Skywalkers passed away while working were Gatlin White, Daniel
Smith, and Mitchell LeClair. Mitchell LeClair, who passed away at the
age of 30, left behind his family and a daughter who was born two days
after the death of her father. Passing this legislation will help recog-
nize the work the Skywalkers performed in constructing this project and
will also honor the Skywalkers who passed away while building the
elevated roadway used by so many New Yorkers today.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Minimal to the state.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.