Goshen, N.Y. - Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus announced on Monday that the County has been awarded two grants worth $4.19 million through the State’s BRIDGE NY program.
“These funds will help us to continue our investment into in strengthening our County infrastructure,” Neuhaus said. “I am pleased that Governor Cuomo made competitive funds available for these two important projects. County travelers and visitors alike will greatly benefit from these upgrades. I commend DPW Commissioner Erik Denega and his hard-working team for their diligence in preparing the grant application.”
The County was awarded a $3.58 million grant to replace the seven-span bridge that carries Highland Avenue (County Route 11) over Wallace Street and the Otisville Rail Tunnel. The County was also awarded an additional $613,000 to replace a culvert on Lower Road (County Route 12) in Wawayanda. Design work on the projects will begin this winter.
The State’s BRIDGE NY initiative will fund 165 individual projects in 95 communities across the State. The program focuses on projects that address deteriorated structural conditions; mitigate weight restrictions or long detours; facilitate economic development or increase competitiveness; and/or reduce the risk of flooding.
The 165 projects, which include 86 bridges and 79 culverts, were selected following a process that considered the structural condition of a bridge or culvert and its resiliency and significance, as well as traffic volumes and detour issues. The BRIDGE NY program is run by the New York State Department of Transportation and is part of a $23.3 billion multi-year capital plan to upgrade critical roads, bridges and other vital transportation infrastructure across New York State.
For more information, contact Justin Rodriguez, Assistant to the County Executive for Communications and Media Relations at 845.291.3255 or jrodriguez@orangecountygov.com.
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