Buffalo, NY (WBEN) Erie County is getting some extra help from Albany in improving roads this summer. The state has released emergency winter recovery funds for 2019.
"This year's harsh winter, coupled with repeated freeze-thaw cycles and heavy rains, had significant impacts on our highway infrastructure. While we are already committing $40 million in county funding to improving our roads in 2019, this added funding allows our Department of Public Works to stretch operations already in place and add some new ones," said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. "Erie County has received no new federal funding for roads in several years, so these Emergency Winter Recovery Funds from NYS provide a needed boost and will be used efficiently to complete as much work as possible."
Commissioner of Public Works William Geary said, "This funding allows our Department to address more roads in every part of the county. We have a massive road inventory, bigger than several states, with over 1,200 lane miles of roads and 290 bridges, so additional funding is always welcome and put to good use. Weather permitting, our crews will be able to complete these projects in 2019 and
The Department of Public Works is planning a total of nearly 9 miles of additional roadwork to utilize the EWR funding in 2019:
· Bowen Rd, Lancaster – the limits of the current paving project will be extended from William Street to Broadway on Bowen, approximately 1 additional mile. 10,224 vehicles a day drive this new section, which is classified as a minor arterial road.
· Davis Rd, Aurora – the limits of the already-planned paving will be extended from Jewett- Holmwood to Ellicott Rd (Rte. 240), an additional 1.35 miles. 3,351 vehicles a day travel this road, classified as a collector.
· East Church Street, Eden – A new paving project is planned for Rte. 62 to Rte. 75 Sisson Highway, a distance of 2.58 miles. 1,779 vehicles a day travel this road, classified as a collector.
· Grote Rd, Concord – A new paving project is planned on Grote from Zoar Valley Rd. to Morton Rd., a distance of 1 mile. 230 vehicles a day travel this local road.
· New Rd, Amherst – Temporary paving will take place on New Road from Millersport to Dodge Rd, a distance of 1.39 miles, in advance of new design and construction on this road that is anticipated to be completed by 2021. The road is classified a collector and has a vehicle count of 5100 cars a day.
· North French Rd, Amherst – A new paving project for 2019 will pick up on work completed in 2018, paving North French from Campbell to Sweet Home Rd., a distance of 1.61 miles. This road is classified as principal arterial with 10,471 cars a day.
In addition to these projects the Erie County DPW will also address the condition of Maple Road in Amherst from Hopkins to Transit Road a distance of 2.17 miles. Maple Road is a principal arterial travelled by 23,000 cars daily, in advance of a scheduled 2020 rehabilitation utilizing over $6 million in combined county and federal funds.
