Causeway in Kent Sees Revival From Bipartisan Efforts
One of the Town of Kent’s most treacherous roads received a much-needed upgrade, so much so, that a slew of town and Putnam County officials celebrated its revival.
The path along Nichols Street currently known as Little Fill’s Causeway, but with the hope to rename it Veterans Memorial Causeway, was officially reopened with new paving and upright guardrails that should improve the safety of the road that was almost closed because of the past danger it posed to drivers. Working in a bipartisan effort, the project costs to the taxpayers were minimal after the town got a $100,000 grant and the town and county swapped equipment and services to get the work done.
County Executive MaryEllen Odell, Kent Supervisor Maureen Fleming, Assemblywoman Sandy Galef, Kent Highway Commissioner Richard Othmer, Legislator Toni Addonizio, and other local officials and leaders were on hand.
Almost a year ago, Kent Councilman Bill Huestis initially pushed to have the causeway fixed. Fleming said his doggedness is one of the reasons why the town went forward with this project.
“I’ve driven over this causeway and was basically afraid to drive over it,” Fleming said.
The original estimate to fix the causeway was pegged for about $1.6 million. As a result, the town turned to several other public officials in search of funding and assistance. After Fleming got in touch with Galef, the possibility of a grant came up and was eventually delivered.
Putnam County Highway Commissioner Fred Pena and his engineering department created road plans and the county lent the Kent Highway Department its heavy equipment, which Kent workers used.
“We’re about cooperation,” Fleming, a Democrat, said. “They did a magnificent job.”
Othmer, in his first term as highway chief, said he almost closed the road. Once sworn in as highway superintendent, it’s his prerogative to shut any road down he thinks is too risky for drivers.
He gave much of the credit to his workers, including Chris Morris and Stanley Robinson, who were the two machine operators that ran the job. Othmer stressed the job was one that posed certain risks for them, as well.
“I watched this like a hawk,” Othmer said. “I watched every penny.”
Because of equitable tradeoff, Kent lent the county some of its smaller equipment and Othmer is rebuilding a stone post that a county plow hit in Mahopac earlier this year.
The causeway is expected to be renamed Veterans Memorial Causeway, pending town board approval. The idea was born from local veterans, pointing out the causeway leads to Veterans Memorial Park on Gypsy Trail Road.
“Another great tribute in Putnam County,” Kent resident and Veterans Affairs Director Karl Rohde said. “The county that loves veterans and honors veterans all the time.”
