 |
|||
 |
|
|
|
|
Final public hearing held on DOT project By BILL SHEEHAN
Recorder News Staff
MAYFIELD — A $5 million project to transform Route 30 through Vail Mills into a safer, more-efficient highway, was discussed for the final time Thursday night as about 60 area residents gathered in the Mayfield Central School auditorium for a presentation on the plan.
The project proposes to turn the intersection of Routes 30 and 29 into a roundabout, widening Route 30 north toward Broadalbin and replacing the bridge over the Kennyetto Creek.
The project started with the bridge, which was identified in need of replacement in 1992.
The short span was built in 1927 and has been officially classified as structurally deficient — safe to drive over, but currently off-limits to heavy trucks.
The state Transportation Department then turned its attention to the intersection of the two state highways which has an accident rate three times the statewide average and determined that the best solution was to install a curbed roundabout to slow and move increasing volumes of traffic through the intersection more safely.
Officials also said the traffic device would lower pollution and gasoline consumption by eliminating the stop and backup of idling cars.
At the intersection of Routes 30 and County Route 155, DOT plans to add dedicated turning lanes and install a regular traffic signal to replace the flashing light that now services that location.
New sidewalks and curbing will be installed the length of the project.
DOT regional design engineer Steven Zywiak said that officials first considered creating a bypass to take Route 30 on a straighter course north of Route 27, but scrapped those plans over historic and archeological concerns.
The widening of the road will also mean some land acquisition for the department.
"There are some strip takes but the only major acquisition is an old gas station. We've been dealing with the owner for the last year and figured that to buy it was the best alternative. What we needed was too significant for him to remain as a viable business," said Zywiak.
While Zywiak said that the roundabout was somewhat of an issue at a meeting just over a year ago on the project, there were few concerns expressed at Thursday's session.
DOT officials said that the installation of a series of five roundabouts along Route 67 in Malta has lowered the local accident rate by 90 percent and turned the time to travel that length of the road from six-and-a-half minutes to two minutes.
"And over two years, people have become accustomed to it," said Zywiak.
DOT officials hope to have final design approval by July and put the project out to bid in November 2009.
Construction is tentatively set to begin in March 2010 to be finished by the following November.
Officials said traffic through the area will be maintained during construction with special consideration for businesses in the construction zone who depend on the seasonal trade.
———
Contact Bill Sheehan at billsheehan@recordernews.com.
|
|
|
