Life on Easy Street is about to become more difficult. A recent resolution passed by the Malta Town Board will allow the New York Department of Transportation to use the road as a detour route while they construct a roundabout at the intersection of Route 9, Route 67 and Curry Avenue as part of the Round Lake Bypass Project.
I’m not really happy about it, but there is nothing I can do about it, said Tami McDonough, a resident of Easy Street.
DOT spokesman, Robert Hansen, said the state is conscious of the impact the detour will have on the street’s residents. Currently, Easy Street is blocked off at one end and has only four driveways accessing the road.
McDonough said she’s concerned the street’s quiet, safe atmosphere will be replaced with commuters and tractor-trailers.
`We are trying to minimize the time period that detour will be used,` said Hansen adding that DOT is working with Easy Street residents and nearby businesses. Hansen said he hopes the contractor will be able to complete the necessary work in under a month’s time.
`There is a lot of work to be done there,` said Hansen, noting that in addition to the roundabout construction, DOT will be relocating a sewer line and placing a new water connection under Route 9 in anticipation of the county water system going through.
`Substantial construction of the roundabout will not begin until 2008,` said Hansen. At this time DOT is setting the schedule with the contractor. In an effort minimize the impact on area business and not impede traffic flow Hansen said the roundabout construction would be scheduled outside of Saratoga track season.
The approved resolution allows for DOT to `provide routine maintenance, install traffic control devices and make improvements or repairs when necessary.`
McDonough said she thought DOT would need to widen Easy Street to accommodate the tractor-trailer traffic that will need to use it. Hansen did not discuss specific improvements to the road.
`We will do whatever improvements necessary to make it safe and operable,` he said. Hansen added that DOT will use barricades and signs to slow down traffic. Hansen said the DOT is in discussion with the town as to whether the road will remain a through road after the detour. While it is shown on county and town maps as a through road town officials said a resident cabled off the road several years ago creating the dead end.
`It will probably be nice when it is done, but in the meantime it’s going to be a pain,` said McDonough.
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