Lackawanna, N.Y. (WBEN) - With the warmer weather having finally arrived and here to stay in Western New York, work to improve local roadways has either just started or is well underway, especially across Erie County.
While in Lackawanna along Abbott Road on Wednesday, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz highlighted some of the work that's underway as part of the 2024 road and bridge construction program, including what's being taken care of in the city this season.
"This is a very big project here on Abbott Road, and it's been a number of years in the making. It's taken a little bit of time, because we had to follow up after the construction of brand new water lines from the Erie County Water Authority. So this, today, is actually the first official day of this project of the many projects we have," said Poloncarz during a press conference. "This project alone is nearly $7 million for the Abbott Road reconstruction, which is not just a new road, but it's also lining of storm sewers and other work, curbs and so forth. It's an example of how big these projects are right now."
One of the reasons why Abbott Road is getting done as early as possible is the county wants the work from Fisher Road all the way to Mile Strip in Orchard Park to be done before the upcoming season of football for the Buffalo Bills.
By the end of the 2024 roadwork season, the Erie County Department of Public Works teams and contractors will have repaired 102.1 miles of total roadways as part of the $55.8 million road and bridge program.
"This is the largest program the county has ever had, by more than $6 million. The largest was last year's, which was $49 million, and the year before, of course, was $47 million. A grand total - from 2022, '23 and '24, what we'll do this year - of $152 million combined over a three-year period, with hundreds of miles of roads that will have been done during that period," Poloncarz noted.
"Our mill and overlay projects, $3.7 million for 14 miles of road. Our cold recycle and top course treatment - this is a kind of a new type of program we used in the last few years in which we can actually mill and immediately use the millings to redo the road - $2.1 million over 9.4 miles of road. Our oil and chip project, 69 miles of road at $2.1 million. And then we have some major engineering projects, which are $37 million of investment... it all comes out to 102.1 miles when you add it all up."
Poloncarz says there's not one part of Erie County that will not be touched by the county's road plan. Municipalities like Clarence, Hamburg, Elma, North Collins, Eden, Brant, Grand Island, West Seneca, Springville, Lackawanna, Orchard Park, Holland, Sardinia, Boston, Wales, Colden, Concord, Newstead, Alden, Lancaster, Cheektowaga, and Amherst will have some sort of roadwork being completed this summer.
In total, a little less than 10% of all the roads are being worked on in Erie County this year, which Poloncarz says is a yearly goal so that every road has been rehabilitated, at least, once over a decade.
"The work that's being done is a combination of the work from our Department of Public Works teams, as well as our independent contractors who bid out. We take the lowest responsible bidder, so we're always getting the best price for these roads, based on the contractors who bid on them," Poloncarz added. "It's overseen by our Department of Public Works' Highways Deputy Commissioner Karen Hoch. She's got a lot on her plate right now, as well as all the teams, and I want to thank Karen and her teams for the work they do to continually invest in our community."
Poloncarz adds that Erie County does not control any roads in the City of Buffalo, but did chip in a couple million dollars from the county budget this year to assist the city with road construction.
In addition, Poloncarz says additional funding from the federal government is set to come for Erie County as part of the road and bridge program for 2025.
"Starting next year, we'll be receiving additional dollars for our road and bridge infrastructure as a result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Plan, which was passed a little over a year ago. That money is not in this year's plan, but we're anticipating receiving additional funding next year, which will go towards additional projects in the future," he detailed.
