Construction Begins on First NY Works Project to Repair Capital District Roads

Additional Bridge and Pavement Projects Starting Across the State

ALBANY, NY (06/22/2012)(readMedia)-- New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Commissioner Joan McDonald today announced that construction has begun on a $13.2 million contract to resurface 21 segments of state roads in the Albany, Columbia, Rensselaer and Washington counties through the NY Works program.

"With additional highway improvement funding provided under Governor Andrew Cuomo's NY Works program, we are moving with these repaving projects all over the capital district region," said McDonald. "We know that improving our roads is good for business, creates jobs and makes getting where we have to go more pleasant and safer."

With today's announcement, construction has begun on the first NY Works transportation improvement projects only two months after Governor Cuomo signed the 2012-2013 Budget allowing funding for these projects to move forward.

NY Works focuses on improving pavement that is in fair condition to good. This preventive maintenance work will better preserve the state's infrastructure and guard against the need for more costly, in-depth construction. Bundling project sites within close geographic locations into a single contract enables DOT to lower expenses and obtain lower bids.

The construction contractor for this project, Callanan Industries, Inc. of Albany, has begun work, including mobilizing equipment and preparing the site for paving, on a 7.5-mile portion of Route 9H between Routes 9/82 and Route 66 and an 11-mile section of Route 66 between Claverack Creek and Route 203, both in Columbia County.

Below is a list of additional roads that will be resurfaced this summer as part of this contract. Schedules are subject to change based on weather or other events.

JUNE

· More than 2.5 miles of Route 40 between Church Street and Hansen Road in the town of Schaghticoke, Rensselaer County

· More than 2.5 miles of Route 40 between Route 125/67 and the Washington county line in Rensselaer County

· Approximately five miles of Route 67 from the Champlain Canal/Hemstreet Park to Route 40 in the town of Schaghticoke, Rensselaer County

· Three miles of Route 22 between routes 2 and 346 (Rabbit College Road) in the town of Petersburgh, Rensselaer County

· Nearly three miles of Route 2 between Peckhem Pond/Yerton Road and routes 4 and 151 (Red Mill/Luther roads) in Rensselaer County

JULY

· Two miles of Route 22 between Route 7 and River Road in the village of Hoosick Falls, Rensselaer County

· Four miles of Route 67 between Route 22 and the New York/Vermont state line in Rensselaer County

· Nearly three miles of Route 43 from Route 23 to Old Mill Road in Rensselaer County

AUGUST

· 1.5 miles of Route 355 between routes 154 and 351 in Rensselaer County

· 1.5 miles of Route 151 from Brookhaven Lane to Hilltop Road in the village of Luther, Rensselaer County

· 1.5 miles of Route 351 between Routes 154/355 and Dater Hill Road in Rensselaer County

· Six miles of Route 20 from the Rensselaer County line to Route 22 in Columbia County

SEPTEMBER

· 4.3 miles of Route 4 between Ryder Road and 7th Avenue in the village of Whitehall, Washington County

· 1.4 miles of Route 4 between routes 9 and 151 (Red Mill Road/Luther Road) in Rensselaer County

· Five miles of Route 7 between routes 278 and 123 (Ford Road) in Rensselaer County

· Nearly two miles of Route 22 from Mahaffey Lane to Chamberlain Mills/Sheldon roads in the village of Hebron, Washington County

OCTOBER

· Four miles of Route 9W between Route 396 (Bridge Street) and the Coeymans/Bethlehem town line in Albany County

· 5.5 miles of Route 40 between Ferry Road and Route 29 in Washington County

· 5.3 miles of Route 22 from Spring Street to McMillan Road in the town of Hebron, Washington County

Work at each site is expected to take between one and four weeks. Lanes will be closed as needed. A limited amount of night work will be performed on the most heavily travelled roads, Route 7 in Brunswick and Pittstown, Route 4 in East Greenbush and Route 9W in Bethlehem.

Motorists may encounter flaggers directing traffic and should expect travel delays. It is imperative that motorists remember this season to drive carefully through the many highway and bridge construction zones they will encounter.