Buffalo, NY (WBEN) Congressman Brian Higgins has been calling for it in Washington. Now State Senator Tim Kennedy is calling for tearing down the Skyway, and he wants Albany to justify the costs of maintaining instead of bringing it down.

“We have a rare situation when it comes to the skyway – the best option is also the least expensive option” said Senator Kennedy. “We need to ensure that the State gets the best bang for their buck when it comes to spending taxpayer funds and I don’t believe maintaining the current condition of the Skyway is the best use of public resources. Taking down the skyway is a win-win, it's good for our community, and it saves money.”

Kennedy says there have been discussions about a similar situation in Syracuse. Last week’s DOT discussions of the removal of the portion of the I-81 that cuts through downtown Syracuse.  DOT Commissioner Joan McDonald expressed excitement about the project, agreeing to explore the economic impact of bringing the viaduct down. Senator Kennedy believes the same logic should be applied to the Buffalo Skyway.

"It only makes sense to gather on the momentum created here to call for removal of the Skyway, as Congressman Higgins and others are calling for federal funding to tear down the Skyway and replace it with more sensible connectors between downtown and the Inner and Outer Harbors," explains Kennedy.

Kennedy says it would cost $20 million to remove the Skyway, while maintaining the Skyway would cost $120 million. Higgins has asked for federal investments toward building sensible connectors from downtown to the waterfront. The state would be responsible for the costs of bringing down the Skyway.