Region's second season - 'Road Work Season' underway

What does Genesee Road in the Town of Concord have in common with Elmwood Avenue in Kenmore and Maple Road in Amherst?

All are among the many Erie County-owned and maintained roads and bridges that are slated to be repaired as part of a $50 million investment slated by the county.

In a lengthy list that runs two pages, virtually every town in Erie County will see some sort of road or bridge repair, said Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz.

"Across the county, you will see something," Poloncarz said.

Each year, the county repairs approximately 100 "road" miles.

Erie County maintains 2,450 "lane" miles, which is more than the entire total of such states as Rhode Island and Delaware..

Since 2020, the county has invested more than $250 million on road and bridge repairs and reconstruction.

It is not only repairs, there are major reconstruction projects that will be addressed this year, Poloncarz said

The Elmwood Avenue project, running from Knoche Road to Kenmore Avenue, covers a 1.45 mile stretch and will be reconstructed. The county will be investing $9.7 million in the Elmwood Avenue project, Poloncarz said.

"These are roads that need some help,": Poloncarz said.

Ditto for a stretch of Maple Road in Amherst running between North Forest Road and Flint Road. That 1.5-mile long project carries a $3 million price tag and finishes a job that began last summer.

That portion of Maple Road handles more than 30,000 vehicles daily.

"I can't even begin to tell you how many calls I get about Maple Road," said Amherst Supervisor Shawn Lavin.

The road work is in addition to the $500,000 Erie County spends annually fixing pot holes.

This winter created more pot holes than usual, said Bill Geary, Erie County Public Works Commissioner.

"The freezing and frost cycle hit the roads hard," Geary said.

Poloncarz and Geary said most of the county work should be completed this year.