Saw Mill Flooding Work Begins in P’ville, Mt. Pleasant
Work began Friday night to help a flood-prone stretch of the Saw Mill River Parkway in Pleasantville.
The state Department of Transportation (DOT) is closing a 900-foot stretch of highway between Bedford Road and Marble Avenue in Thornwood during the overnight hours while crews raise the road bed by about three inches. The project also calls for the repaving of the Marble Avenue exit ramp, according to the DOT.
Pleasantville Mayor Peter Scherer said the village has been informed that the work is expected to last three or four nights.
“Clearly, in the short term it’s good news for us in the village to for them to fix the problem but we still need a long-term fix,” Scherer said.
Detour signs have been posted at various points downtown to help motorists unfamiliar with the area to help them navigate the parkway’s closure.
Pleasantville has been plagued with snarled traffic whenever there has been heavy rainfall. Aside from the aggravation, local officials have said there is a correlation between repeated closures and negative economic impacts. On days when the parkway is closed, traffic is backed up throughout the village.
In a statement, DOT Commissioner Joan McDonald said Governor Andrew Cuomo is aware of the serious problem on that stretch of parkway and the toll it takes on the local economy and residents.
“This initiative will raise the parkway’s elevation where it’s prone to the most frequent flooding while we work to develop a more permanent solution,” McDonald said.
The agency gave no specifics regarding a long-term project.
This is not the first time the road bed has been raised along that stretch of the parkway. About seven or eight years ago a similar project was completed, which limited flooding in that area for a few years.
The section between Marble Avenue and Bedford Road is built in a marshy area on a peat bog, which is subject to settling and compaction. Over time, the roadway’s elevation drops, making it susceptible to flooding.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/
