The New Scotland Town Board talked about the reconstruction and maintenance of Krumkill Road and other roads within the town at its meeting on Wednesday, July 11.
In April, a storm damaged the subsoil of Krumkill Road, and there is now a large crack in an area east of the county bridge. The board has been working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and state emergency management office for about four months to get the funds for repairs, which are expected to cost about half a million dollars.
Krumkill is a high traffic road that connects Albany to the New Scotland and Bethlehem, so the town is committed to getting it fixed.
Cooperation between the town, county, state, and federal agencies is important to the town to make sure we fix this in an expeditious manner, said Mark Dempf, the town engineer.
The town is waiting on a report from a geologist who has to examine the road before it can go any further.
Though the road is currently maintained by New Scotland, town officials are looking to trade it with the county of Albany for Font Grove Road, a less traveled road within the town that would be easier to maintain.
` It’s a very expensive road, and it isn’t just a New Scotland road,` Supervisor Edward Clark said of Krumkill. `That pretty much defines it as multi-jurisdictional, and we think the transportation network should be maintained systematically.`
Also on the subject of roads, the town engineer handed the board a proposal that calls for reconfiguring a hazardous portion of New Salem South Road, where there have been several accidents. The goal is to realign the road so that is safer and has better visibility of oncoming traffic.
The town is also concerned about the possibility of a subdivision being built on New Salem South that could cause more traffic. The board agreed to review the paperwork over the next few weeks before making a decision.
The board also talked about having a skate park built in Nichols Park, an idea many parents in the community support. The town has committed to help construct the blacktop that will be the base of the park, but additional funds are needed for the equipment and for a fence that will surround it.
The county has requested a proposal for community youth investment grant money. If the town gets the money, it hopes to use it to build a fence around the park. Contributions from the community are being encouraged to help raise money for the equipment, and those interested in doing so can call 765-4027.
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