Roaring Brook Road to Be Closed to Traffic This Weekend
A half-mile stretch of Roaring Brook Road in Chappaqua will be closed to traffic this weekend as the Town of New Castle, the state Department of Transportation (DOT) and Metro-North will partner to make safety improvements.
The road from the Saw Mill Parkway exit over the Metro-North grade crossing to near Southview Road will be shut for about 48 hours at 7 p.m. this Friday, May 29, through Sunday afternoon, May 31, for repaving and milling and better signage, said Supervisor Robert Greenstein.
“The whole area is going to be repaved on both sides of the tracks,” Greenstein said.”Both sides of the tracks will be paved from the Saw Mill and then there’s going to be some new pavement markings, new signage. We’re installing new lights.”
Greenstein said motorists in the area should watch for electronic signs that will be put in place alerting motorists of the scheduled work, closures and detours.
The project was coordinated following a May 5 meeting between town and Chappaqua School District officials and representatives from DOT and Metro-North.
Town Administrator Jill Simon Shapiro said the work will only take place if the forecast for the weekend calls for dry weather. Otherwise, it will be postponed until a future time, most likely the last weekend in June when scheduled activities in the area, including the upcoming graduation ceremonies at nearby Horace Greeley High School, have been completed.
Only local traffic for residents who live on the street will have access to Roaring Brook Road, Shapiro said.
This weekend’s work is only meant to provide short-term improvements, Greenstein said. More significant improvements such as a bridge or bypass over the tracks at the Roaring Brook Road grade crossing will require millions of dollars and a much more significant push from the area’s local, state and federal representatives, he said.
Town officials have lobbied for greater safety measures at the Roaring Brook Road grade crossing since the Feb. 3 accident in Valhalla where six people were killed when a Metro-North train slammed into an SUV. There have also been at least two incidents of vehicles having been stuck inside the crossing gates at Roaring Brook Road since the Valhalla crash. New Castle police have stepped up patrols in the area to discourage drivers from trying to beat the gates.
Motorists are asked to visit the town’s website, www.mynewcastle.org, throughout the week for further updates about the status of the project.
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/
