Rock Slide Removal Under Way In Washington County

ALBANY, NY (10/15/2012)(readMedia)-- New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Joan McDonald today announced work is under way to remove debris from a rock slide that closed Route 4 this morning in the Village of Comstock in the Town of Fort Ann, Washington County.

"The State Department of Transportation will be working around the clock to get Route 4 reopened as quickly as possible," Commissioner McDonald said. "We appreciate the traveling public's patience and thank the New York State Police, local officials and emergency responders for their help with this response."

NYSDOT staff is determining the extent of the damage to Route 4 and the best way to contain the remaining rock that is adjacent to the road.

The Department has mobilized Reale Construction of Ticonderoga, Essex County, to handle the removal of more than 1,000 cubic yards of debris. The debris clean-up work began around noon today. The contractor will work throughout the night from both sides of the slide. The highway is expected to reopen later this week.

NYSDOT has established a detour around the closure onto Routes 22, 40, 149 and 4. A shorter, local detour also is available for passenger vehicles. The detour is being signed and information is available on 511NY, New York State's one-stop travel information service that informs drivers about traffic conditions across the state. Visit the website at www.511ny.org.

The rock slide occurred at about 9:15 a.m. today and is approximately 200 feet long in the southbound lane of U.S. Route 4, just north of Kelsey Pond Road in the Village of Comstock.

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