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MAIN STREET PROJECT IN FINAL STAGES
Mike McCagg
ccSCOOP News
08-03-09 - 4:25 p.m. - Despite the nonstop rain and attendant work delays, Chatham’s Main Street project is on schedule to be finished by the end of the year.
Even before the work is completed, however, village residents and customers, who have endured blown tires and repeated wheel realignments as a result of the project, will see some relief. Allison Ackerman, spokeswoman for the New York State Department of Transportation, told ccSCOOP last week that workers are scheduled to lay the final layer of asphalt on Route 66 and Main Street in early August, raising the level of the road and thus reducing the height of the granite curbs that have claimed numerous tires in the past year. |
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According to Ackerman, the Chatham project and projects across the state have been delayed by the extensive rain. "The rains have affected projects throughout every region and put everything behind schedule a little bit," Ackerman said.
When Route 66 is completed, contractors will move on to Route 295/Railroad Avenue, where crews are now installing curbing. Ackerman said the sidewalks on that stretch are “essentially complete.” Once the curbing is installed and drainage work finished, paving will begin. This is anticipated to happen by the end of summer.
“Starting with the new planting season, which begins October 11, we will continue with the planting and landscaping,” Ackerman said. That work–and the entire project—is expected to be finished by the end of November.
The Main Street reconstruction project has come under fire for the last two years, despite being developed in an open process that involved active participation from community members and the Chatham Business Alliance.
Residents and business owners have claimed that the new “bump-outs”–areas where the curb juts into the street to define crosswalks—have caused accidents and blown tires because they surprise drivers who aren’t used to them being there. Business owners have also complained that the curbs, which when first installed were 7.5 inches high, three inches higher than the previous curbs, have popped many tires when customers tried to park on Main Street.
A petition signed by more than 260 residents and business owners was submitted as recently as March to the Village Board and forwarded to the state seeking immediate action to correct sharp curbs and remedy other problems that have caused woes for business owners, customers, and residents. But state officials said that the curbs have been used elsewhere, including in Fishkill and Rhinebeck, without problems. They also noted that the granite curbs, which for the Chatham project cost $56,000 more than cement curbs, were specifically requested by village residents and business owners during the public planning process.
PREVIOUS ccSCOOP ARTICLES ABOUT CHATHAM'S MAIN STREET PROJECT
"DOT on Curbs: You Wanted Them, You've Got Them" - April 2, 2009
"Village of Chatham Forwards Its "Curb Appeal" to State" - March 5, 2009
"Emergency Responders: No Red Lights for Chatham Construction Project" - November 20, 2008
"Curb Your Enthusiasm: Chatham's Redesigned Main Street" - November 13, 2008
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