Bethlehem’s pothole problems along one particularly bumpy stretch will soon be fixed following an influx of cash from the state.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently announced $36 million in additional funds for resurfacing projects throughout New York. The only project to receive money within the Capital District was to resurface a portion of Kenwood Avenue.
“Anecdotally, I can say we got a lot of calls this winter on the condition of Kenwood Avenue,” said state Department of Transportation Spokesman Bryan Viggiani. “It’s no secret that the road needs work, and we’re well aware of its condition.”
Bethlehem Supervisor John Clarkson said the town was not shy about reaching out to the DOT in regards to the pothole problems this winter. Town officials were getting multiple calls and e-mails each day about the situation, but there was little the town could do because the road is state owned. They eventually placed a notification on the town’s website and encouraged residents to call the state’s pothole hotline.
DOT workers responded numerous times and cold patched the potholes as a temporary fix.
Viggiani said the department knew of the problems on Kenwood, but there wasn’t money in their budget to repave the road.
“Receiving the funding was critical for us to get the job done,” Viggiani said.
Now, about $450,000 will be spent to resurface and repave Kenwood Avenue from the Four Corners to Cherry Avenue. The hope is for much of the work to be done at night.
“At Gov. Cuomo’s direction, we identified the most significantly damaged roads and are proceeding to utilize all available resources to make necessary repairs,” said state DOT Commissioner Joan McDonald in a statement. “This work will fix the damage caused by the extreme winter weather and increase safety for the traveling public.”
Clarkson said he wished more money was available so that all of the town’s problem areas could be fixed. But the section of road between Delaware and Cherry Avenues is in such poor condition he said it’s important money was found so the repairs on Kenwood can be done quickly.
Viggiani said the work will also help with flooding issues in the area.
The area’s drainage system is still functional, but the pavement along that section of road is so depressed, the road becomes washed out. Repaving will mean the road is up higher and the water will be able to flow down and drain properly.
Clarkson said this is an issue the town will continue to focus on to make sure other areas of the town also get paved in the near future.
Delaware Avenue will eventually be resurfaced after the town was awarded a $1.2 million grant in January as part of the state’s Bicycle, Pedestrian and Multi-use Enhancement Projects initiative.
The grant is through the federal Department of Transportation’s Transportation Enhancement Program, and the funds are expected to be used to turn the town’s Delaware Avenue Hamlet Enhancement Study into reality.
The entire project is estimated to cost around $3.1 million, so the town will need to make up the remainder of the cost unless additional funding can be found through grants or fundraising. Construction is not expected to begin until 2015.
“Those two roads were our biggest concerns, but that’s not to say we don’t have other sections of road along Route 9W and Feura Bush that also need work,” said Clarkson.
The repairs are expected to begin in late August or early September, with the work completed by October.