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Wallkill Valley Times , Wednesday , September 21 , 2016

PUBLIC AGENDA

MONDAY , SEPTEMBER 26

Maybrook Village Board , 7 p . m . Village Government Center , 111 Schipps Lane , Maybrook . Valley Central Board of Education 7:15 p . m . Administration building , 944 Route 17K , Montgomery . Town of Montgomery Planning Board , 7:30 p . m . Town Government Center , 110 Bracken Road , Montgomery .

TUESDAY , SEPTEMBER 27

Pine Bush Board of Education . 7 p . m . Circleville Middle School .

WEDNESDAY , SEPTEMBER 28

Crawford Planning Board , 7 p . m . Town Hall , 121 Route 302 , Pine Bush . Village of Montgomery Planning Board , 7:30 p . m ., Village Hall , 133 Clinton Street .

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The Wallkill Valley Times , ( USPS 699-490 ) is a weekly newspaper published every Wednesday at Newburgh , N . Y . 12550 , with offices at 300 Stony Brook Court , Newburgh , N . Y . . Single copy : $ 1 at newsstand . By mail in Orange , Ulster or Sullivan Counties : $ 40 annually , $ 44 out of county . Periodicals permit at Newburgh , N . Y . POSTMASTER : Send address changes to Wallkill Valley Times , 300 Stony Brook Court , Newburgh , N . Y . 12550

The Wallkill Bridge , dating back to the early 1900s , is to be replaced next year .

By RACHEL COLEMAN

The Ulster County project , with an estimated price tag of more than $ 1.4 million , is still in the planning stages but is expected to take upwards of five months to complete . During that time , the bridge will be closed and detours put in place .

The project was presented to residents at the Shawangunk Town Board meeting last week , prompting concerns about the impact on local businesses , but also enthusiasm for the safety improvements .

“ Doing nothing is not an option because what we have now is not safe ,” said Ulster County Legislator Ken Ronk .

The plan is to increase the width of the roadway , create ADA compliant pedestrian access , relocate the existing water line on the bridge to underneath , install a new crash-tested rail or barrier system with lighting that meets the historical aesthetic of the bridge , as well as address drainage issues .

According to Andrew Emrich of the Ulster County DPW , the original plan was to simply replace the railing and make a few small repairs to the concrete . After inspecting the bridge and speaking with town officials however , the county widened the scope .

Project engineer Matthew Hunt of Creighton Manning , said the width of the lanes and the pedestrian sidewalk are not up to current standards . This prompts drivers to drift into the opposite lane as they cross the bridge because “ it ’ s not comfortable .”

In addition , the non-standard metal railing along the bridge is covered in lead paint and deteriorated . Hunt said it is “ probably not crash-worthy at this point .” It was installed in the 1930s to replace the original 1915 concrete barrier .

The goal of the presentation was to give local residents an opportunity to comment on the project and weigh in on the options , further to a new initiative under Ulster County Executive Mike Hein to involve impacted communities in major infrastructure decisions .

The current plan is to take the entire top off the century-old bridge and put on a new full-width concrete deck or replace the existing deck with an asphalt roadway with concrete overhangs .

While the cost is about ten percent higher for the all-concrete option , residents stated it was the way to go as it has more longevity and is therefore a better investment .

There are also multiple choices for the replacement of the railings : a concrete design resembling the original ; two metal railings with one set for the vehicles and a second for pedestrians ; and a hybrid barrier where the bottom is made of concrete and the top is metal railing .

There are also four different lamppost options for residents to choose from .

“ Any of this is 100 times better than what we ’ ve got ,” said town resident Lee Titus , going on to suggest a small observation deck attached to the sidewalk so pedestrians can pause to appreciate the view of the Wallkill River .

Town resident Delbe Spath pointed out that trucks regularly hit the rail at the turn on Wallkill Avenue by the post office .

“ You ’ ve got to take that turn out of there ,” said Spath .

Hunt said construction is expected to take 4-5 months , but that an exact schedule is not possible yet as there are “ a lot of moving parts .”

One of the details still being worked out is the detour . The first proposal presented last week includes a dirt road that will not withstand truck traffic . County officials intend to collaborate with the town board and first responders in the next couple weeks to find the best route .

Responding to requests for a temporary bridge , like the one recently installed in New Paltz , Andrew Emrich of the Ulster County DPW stated that the Wallkill Bridge is a more than 150 feet longer and such a bridge is not available — and they don ’ t have a viable site to install it , regardless .

The Wallkill Bridge connects Bruyn Turnpike ( CR-18 ) and Wallkill Avenue .

“ It ’ s going to devastate Main Street ,” said resident Frank Riess . “ I don ’ t know if they can sustain four months of no business .”

Titus said the traffic volume across the bridge has previously been measured at about 5,000 trips per day . When such a detour happened in the past , he said the move “ killed ” local business .

“ We literally became a ghost town ,” said Titus .

Residents suggested that the county add more shifts , or use prefabricated concrete to help speed the project , but it was explained that both suggestions would increase the cost and more shifts would not shorten the time needed for the concrete to cure . In addition , the prefabricated slabs would have a lower life expectancy as they have a greater risk of water infiltration and deterioration .

Dennis Doyle , Planning Director for Ulster County , stated that the project would result in a 1915 bridge that would improve the quality of life in the town . He added that gaining a bridge that would last 50 years versus a four months road closure would be money well spent .

Those who wish to comment on the project should submit them in writing to : Creighton Manning Engineering , Attn : Matt Hunt , 2 Winners Circle , Albany , NY 12205 or by e-mail to : mhunt @ cmellp . com .

All public comments must be received by Oct . 15 . Hunt said they plan to return before the Shawangunk Town Board at the end of October or early November .