You really have to hand it to the Rockland County Highway Department and the New York State Department of Transportation. If you take a little ride along County Road 108 in North Rockland, you will see a widening and improvement project that has been planned in anticipation of, instead of reaction to, the Route 9W bridge replacement.

After an emergency closure and repair of the 9W bridge in Stony Point last summer, the Beach Road/Route 108 detour was a key to relieving most of the 9W congestion. Stony Point Town officials asked for assistance as temporary closures forced traffic onto Lowland Hill, East and West Main Streets in Stony Point, and onto otherwise local routes.

As plans for a Route 9W closure and a full-time detour via Route 108 for the eventual bridge replacement came together, the RC Highway and NYS DOT sat down and planned this rehab project. The various improvements being made now will make a world of difference to those who regularly travel this riverfront and commercial corridor. When the replacement project starts, now scheduled for Spring of 2009, the road should be ready for the added volume and larger sized trucks that are sure to use the road. Its good to see the County Highway Department and NYS DOT have combined forces and committed to widening and improving this busy North Rockland route and getting it done before we need it.

Funding for the improvements, which come at a time when funding is scarce, are borne mainly by the New York State DOT, and rightfully so. The Farley Bridge is a major DOT problem here in the Hudson Valley, and they need to get this right. The rehab includes a widening of turns, improvements in lines of sight, guardrails, drainage, and signage that is sure to improve safety.

You have to give a big hand to Skip Vezzetti at the RC Highway Department and Sandra Jobson of New York State DOT for taking this job on. As I have said here on many occasions, these major public works jobs need to be managed in an intelligent and cooperative manner and from the looks of it, the James A Farley Bridge job has gotten off to an excellent start. Thanks to all involved.

Editors Note: The bridge bids are in. Assuming they award to the lowest bidder.

Read more on Harrison and Burrows HERE

D261034               COUNTY : Rockland Co.
PIN: 8239.41          FA#: L1C0-8239-413
Replacement of Route 9W Bridge (composite girder) over
Cedar Pond Brook in the Town of Stony Point

________________________________________________

HARRISON & BURROWES      $ 11,063,110.63
ECCO III ENTERPRISES          $ 13,708,000.00
DEFOE CORPORATION            $ 13,754,214.80
YONKERS CONTRACTING     $ 14,811,881.50
LAWS CONSTRUCTION           $ 17,686,491.40

When I read Mike Kohut’s letter to the LoHud Editor, I thought I was going to fall out of my chair. Not only did I have the same exact conversation with Joe just two days before, but there was a  conversation over at the RocklandFires forum a couple of weeks ago over the same exact thing. They have a habit of getting the wrong location when they report fires as well as crimes. It’s obvious that the LoHud reporters need help getting a grip on their beat. In the old days, a paper would have a local editor who would hold these reporters accountable, make them get their facts straight before they published. At least make them check the zip code book for chrissakes.

Travelling around the Village lately I have seen that many people, old and young, have no clue about the dangers around them. Mothers walking babies in strollers down the middle of Maple Ave, schoolkids dodging out on Broadway on the way to school, jaywalkers at New Main and Maple, and residents crowding Main Street on Saturday night make for driving conditions that are getting much too dangerous. There is no doubt that we need to address this issue before someone gets hurt, and an educational campaign is needed, and sooner than later. The cops can’t be expected to enforce laws that people never heard of, especially if the community as a whole has ignored them for so long. I remember as a kid that local government and the schools both took great care to teach and reinforce the simple message, ‘Cross at the Green and Not Between’ .

I think its time we got back to it.  Not only that, It’s the Law §1152

Rockland County Traffic Safety Data

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