Safety Improvements for Bear Mtn Pkwy Slammed
Safety improvements planned for the Bear Mountain Parkway that would reduce the speed limit on the dangerous roadway, squeeze the lanes from four to two in some areas and install a partial median barrier raised the ire of some local officials and residents last week.
Representatives from the New York State Department of Transportation outlined details of the $3 million project during public forums in Cortlandt and Peekskill and received an earful about how the state is being shortsighted by shortchanging necessary upgrades for a roadway that carries between 15,000 and 20,000 vehicles daily and has had five fatalities in the last eight years.
“I have real problems with this and am disappointed with what I see here,” Cortlandt Councilman John Sloan remarked at CortlandtTown Hall. “The layout over three-and-a-half miles is confusing, inconsistent and creates hazards that it aims to solve. It’s not the way we envisioned it.”
For about 15 years, the Cortlandt Town Board has been pleading for improvements and last July sent petitions with 1,500 signatures to the DOT after a fatal accident near Locust Avenue. The DOT initially claimed budget constraints prevented it from doing any work, but last month contacted Cortlandt and Peekskill officials with plans to begin construction this summer.
“These plans may not be everything that we may all want but it’s better than no improvements and if it saves lives I can’t think of anything more important,” Cortlandt Supervisor Linda Puglisi told approximately 100 people in attendance.
DOT Regional Director Bill Gordon explained a more elaborate $20 million project for the corridor was on the drawing board but had to be revamped.
“This is not going to turn into the $20 million project that was originally proposed. With every project there are constraints,” Gordon said. “It’s a 1940’s road operating in the 21st Century. It wasn’t built to do what it’s doing today. We prefer to do the larger things, but the commitment has been made to address these things.”
Besides the fatalities, there have been 80 accidents on the Bear Mountain Parkway over the last three years. DOT Project Manager Michael Schaefer said one measure to try to curb the mishaps is by dropping the speed limit to 45miles per hour. The DOT is also proposing installing a two-mile centerline barrier from Division Street to Locust Avenue, which will result in the current four-lane configuration to shrink to two lanes.
Several audience members told the DOT the median barrier should be extended the entire length of the roadway. “You’re rushing this project a little too fast,” one attendee shouted.
The DOT is planning to start the project in July and finish the barrier by October. A new traffic signal and other enhancements at the intersection of Carhart Avenue and Frost Lane will be completed by May 2014.
“I think it’s a great plan, but they have no money,” said Kevin Kolosky, a lifelong Cortlandt/Peekskill resident. “The exit (Highland Avenue) I live on is an extremely dangerous exit. I’d rather go the long way for safety instead of being killed. I think the safety issues are the most important.”
Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/