The Morningthorpe Avenue Bridge, the newest pedestrian and cyclist gateway to the Village of Brewster, was officially reopened on Monday after a $2.6 million renovation, Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell announced

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The Morningthorpe Avenue Bridge, the newest pedestrian and cyclist gateway to the Village of Brewster, was officially reopened on Monday after a $2.6 million renovation, Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell announced.

“Turning this 126-year-old bridge into a pedestrian and bicycle path is a great step forward,” County Executive Odell said. “It will help make our communities more walkable, provide healthy recreation opportunities and bring people to village parks, the Metro-North train station and Brewster’s Main Street shopping district.”

Putnam County secured federal funding for the reconstruction of the bridge via the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council, of which Odell is a voting member.

Officials from the county, Town of Southeast and Village of Brewster were on hand Monday to cut the ribbon and usher in a new era for the bridge, which runs from Route 22 to Railroad Avenue and crosses over the Croton River.

“This bridge will not only enable residents of the nearby Turk Hill residential neighborhood to walk safely to the train station and shops in Brewster, it will encourage some pedestrians to leave their cars at home,” Fred Pena, the Putnam County Commissioner of Highways and Facilities said. “That can encourage more train travel, reduce traffic congestion in the town and village and help improve the air quality.”

Putnam County Legislator Joseph Castellano said that turning the bridge into a pedestrian walkway rather than replacing with one that could carry vehicular traffic enabled the county to get federal funding.

The State DOT told Putnam County to close the bridge to pedestrian traffic in 2013,” Castellano said. “Our real concern since 2013 was that the bridge could collapse into the reservoir.  Putnam County had to remove the old bridge. As we examined all cost options, the Putnam County Highway Department discovered a federal grant opportunity to create a pedestrian walkway to a mass transit center, in this case the Brewster Village train station. We successfully obtained the grant, which covered 80% of the cost and saved taxpayers $2 million.”

Putnam County Legislator Paul Jonke said the bridge was worth the wait.

“It’s beautiful, you can look out over the reservoir and watch the leaves change in the fall,” Jonke said.  “I want to thank everyone involved,”

The Morningthorpe Avenue Bridge was originally built in 1894. The superstructure was replaced in 1960 and it was last rehabilitated in 1987. The bridge was closed to vehicular traffic in 2006 when structural deficiencies made it unsafe.

“The bridge is a great way to bring more people into the village,” Brewster Mayor Jim Schoenig said. “Pedestrians can walk to the hiking trail, or fish off the bridge. It’s a great addition to our community.”

Kathleen Ables, President of the Putnam County Economic Development Corporation, also attended the ribbon cutting.

“More pedestrian and bike traffic can only help spur the Village of Brewster’s economic development,” Abels said. “More feet on the street is always good for Main Street businesses.”

The reopening of the bridge couldn’t have come at a better time said Putnam County Director of Tourism Tracey Walsh.

“With so many people staying close to home and pursuing outdoor recreation, there is incredible demand for any safe bicycle route in Putnam County,” said the “This bridge is a welcome addition. The pathway will also provide access to the Croton River, which brings fishermen from all over to our county.”

PIN 8761.97 Stoneleigh Ave. @ Drewville Rd. Intersection Improvements

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PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a Public Information Presentation will be made to the Putnam County Legislature’s Physical Services Committee at their scheduled June 22, 2020 meeting. Additionally, the presentation will be posted on Putnam County’s website, www.putnamcountyny.gov, under the Department of Highways & Facilities tab. This presentation is being offered electronically in lieu of a public meeting in response to restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Putnam County, in cooperation with the County’s consulting engineer, Greenman-Pedersen Inc., the New York State Department of Transportation, and the Federal Highway Administration are developing design plans and specifications for the reconstruction of the Stoneleigh Avenue/Drewville Road intersection in the Town of Carmel. The presentation outlines the project purpose, its schedule, and key design features. The project includes roadway reconfiguration, drainage improvements, enhancements to stormwater treatment, and miscellaneous upgrades to signing, guiderail etc.

The purpose of the presentation is to inform the public, County and Town officials, and local agencies about the project and to solicit comments and questions. This presentation is part of the continuing efforts by Putnam County, the New York State Department of Transportation, and the Federal Highway Administration to encourage public involvement into the development of transportation projects.

After viewing the presentation, persons wishing to leave a comment or question may do so on the County’s website until July 1. Comments/questions may also be emailed to the project manager, Mr. Zenon Wojcik, at Zenon.Wojcik@putnamcountyny.gov. Responses will be posted no later than July 8. Please reference PIN 8761.97 – Stoneleigh Avenue/Drewville Road Intersection Improvements on all correspondence.

Send us your thougthts on PIN 8761.97 Stoneleigh Ave. @ Drewville Rd. Intersection Improvements

3 + 3 = ?

Putnam County and the Town of Kent Highway Department working together

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Legislator Carl Albano, Kent Highway Superintendent Richard Othmer Jr. and Putnam’s Deputy Commissioner of Parks Chris Ruthven at Smalley’s Corner Cemetery in Kent. When a tornado ripped through Kent in May 2018, it cut through the middle of the historic cemetery and tore down 18 Norwegian Pine trees. The trees, 60 feet high and five feet in diameter, had likely been planted as part of a public works project during the Great Depression. The Putnam County Legislature, Putnam County Highway, Parks Department and the Kent Highway Department worked in partnership to remove the trees and clean the cemetery of the storm damage.

Prospect Hill Road Bridge Reopens to Vehicular Traffic

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SOUTHEAST, NY – Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell announced that MTA Metro-North Railroad has completed the replacement of the Prospect Hill Road Bridge in Southeast. The bridge, which had been closed for safety concerns in 2008, is now open for vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

“The reopening of the Prospect Hill Road Bridge represents the importance of investing in infrastructure, not only for our quality of life but for the safety and wellness of Putnam County residents, which has always been my administration’s top priority,” said County Executive MaryEllen Odell. “I am pleased that we can have partners such as the Metro North Railroad that share our values. I appreciate Metro North’s commitment to investing in its infrastructure in Putnam County.”

The 270-foot-long bridge, which was originally built in 1910, is located just south of the Southeast station; it carries Prospect Hill Road over the Harlem Line tracks and parts of Metro-North’s Brewster Yard. The bridge replacement cost Metro North approximately $9.45 million.

Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi said, “The Prospect Hill Bridge has been a key component of the town’s infrastructure for over a century, and funds from the MTA’s Capital Program will help maintain it well into the future. We’re pleased that a new Prospect Hill Bridge is now a reality for Putnam residents.”

Legislators Joseph Castellano and Paul Jonke, who both represent the Prospect Hill community in Southeast, believe that residents are grateful to be able to use the new bridge.

“Having the bridge reopened after a decade brings renewed life into the community,” said Legislator Castellano, who is also the chairman of the Putnam County Legislature. “It also provides a much-needed secondary passageway from the Village of Brewster to Route 312, which could potentially alleviate some of the traffic on Route 6.”

Legislator Jonke agrees. “With the recent re-paving on Route 6 and Route 312, the new bridge on Prospect Hill Road caps off a series of incredible infrastructure projects that made  traveling through the Town of Southeast a lot easier.”

The bridge replacement process, which started in April 2017, involved the demolition and removal of the bridge truss superstructure, piers, top of the abutments and roadway approaches, as well as clearing trees, stumps and rubbish from the project area. Utility poles were removed and relocated to accommodate the structural work and the new bridge footprint; crews relocated utilities, including telephone, cable, electrical, communications, signals, and power.  The contractor then built new integral abutments, a center pier, roadway approaches, sidewalk, striping, signage, guide rails, fencing, retaining walls, embankments and drainage structures.

Photo Caption: The new Prospect Hill Road Bridge facing eastbound.

Update from the Putnam County Traffic Safety Board: ***Revised Schedule 6/4-6/8***

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Update from the Putnam County Traffic Safety Board:

***Revised Schedule 6/4-6/8***           

Work will continue Monday thru Friday 9am-4pm.

Monday will be prep work & layout.

Milling & Paving will be starting on Tuesday with the left turning lanes & gore areas from Old Rt. 6 (the west side of Putnam Plaza) to Rt. 312. There will be either lane shifting or alternating traffic based on the work location. As discussed at the meeting, there will be a lot of moving parts to the operation, please be prepared.

Sunday 6/10, as stated in the 6/10 notification, the milling & paving will continue from the Rt. 52/Rt. 6 split, 8pm to 6am.

All work is weather dependent and will shift accordingly.

Milling & Paving Update! Week of 6/4 to 6/8 and 6/10/ to 6/15

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Week of 6/4-6/8

Route 6
Rt. 52 eastbound to Rt. 312

Rt. 312 westbound to Rt. 52

Work will continue Monday thru Friday, 9am-4pm with the prep work and layout.

Any remaining paving prep work will be done along with layout. There will either be lane shifting or alternating traffic based on the work location and activity.

All work is weather dependent and will shift accordingly.

Please expect delays. Find alternate routes where possible and please be courteous to other drivers and the project workers.

Rt. 312 westbound to Rt. 52
Work will continue Monday thru Friday 9am-4pm with the prep work and layout.
Any remaining paving prep work will be done along with layout. There will be either lane shifting or alternating traffic based on the work location & activity.

All work is weather dependent and will shift accordingly. Expect delays, please be patient and drive carefully

 

 

Week of 6/10-6/15

Route 6

Rt. 52 eastbound to Rt. 312

Rt. 312 westbound to Rt. 52

Milling and paving will begin on Sunday night, 6/10 from 8:00pm to 6:00am, Sunday thru Friday, 6/10-6/15. Current anticipated schedule is Sunday thru Thursday, but any inclement weather or other issues will shift the work thru Friday. There will be a total of 5 nights milling and paving. Weather and any other issues will shift the work thru Friday and/or the following week.

Any remaining milling and paving work that is not completed the week of 6/10-6/15 (or shifted 5 days) will be done during the daytime hours of 9am-4pm the following week, 6/18-6/22 (or shifted 5 days).

The milling and paving will begin at the Rt. 52/Rt.6 split and continue east thru Rt. 312.

Updates will be posted as to the project progress.

Please expect delays. Find alternate routes where possible and please be courteous to other drivers and the project workers.

The draft of Putnam County’s 2018 MS4 Annual Report for the Stormwater Management Program is available on the internet for public review.

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The draft of Putnam County’s 2018 MS4 Annual Report for the Stormwater Management

Program is available on the internet for public review. The draft of the report has been

posted on Putnam County’s website at www.putnamcountyny.gov/highwaydept/MS4.  The

public can review this report online and submit comments using the “Annual Report

Comment Form” until May 31, 2018.  Putnam County’s draft MS4 Annual Report

is also available for review at the Putnam County Department of Highways & Facilities,

located at 842 Fair Street, Carmel, New York 10512, and the Putnam County Department of Planning, Development, & Public Transportation, located at 2 Route 164, Patterson, NY 12563.

Milling and Resurfacing Project from Rte 6 to Rte 52 and Rte. 6 to Rte 312

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From the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department and Traffic Safety Board

Milling and Resurfacing Project from Rte 6 to Rte 52 and Rte. 6 to Rte 312

The long awaited road work and paving for the roads mentioned above is about to begin and you might have already seen the Variable Message Boards flashing

Roadwork Ahead  9 am – 4 pm.

Preliminary work has begun in the catch basins with the expected milling and filling work to begin approximately June 11th. This project is expected to take between 3-5 weeks, working during the day and some nights, and is dependent on weather conditions and construction unknowns. As we have been told by the NYS DOT Project Engineer, be prepared for some traffic inconveniences, loud noises, dust/dirt and general frustrations. However, please remember, as with most construction renovations, the outcome will be well worth it. The safety of our residents, our local businesses, school schedules and emergency services have all been discussed as to keeping the impact of the project at a minimal.

For up-to-date information, please look at the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department website and Facebook page, the Putnam County Traffic Safety Board’s website and Facebook page, the Town of Carmel website and your local newspapers.

Drewville Road Bridge Reopened

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CARMEL, NY – Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell announces the reopening of the Drewville Road Bridge in Carmel. The New York State Department of Transportation has approved the reopening today, Friday, December 15, after the Putnam County Highways and Facilities Department completed the necessary repairs to the infrastructure.

“I am so proud of our highway department workers who came through as promised to have the bridge open in two weeks’ time, even under the recent harsh weather conditions,” said Odell. “Repairing our aging infrastructure is a priority for the county so we can ensure the safety of our residents.”

The highway department constructed temporary shoring for the bridge that will support the safe travel across the Drewville Road Bridge.

“The process required two weeks to make the repair,” explained Fred Pena, Highways and Facilities Commissioner. “Week 1 included designing the shoring, gathering equipment and material, obtaining permits and developing a work plan. During Week 2 the execution of the repair was done.”

A full replacement of the Drewville Road Bridge is scheduled for 2019.

Putnam’s Highway Departments prepare for the inclement weather with winter operations training

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Winter is nearly upon us again, and municipal Highway Departments throughout the region are busy preparing equipment and personnel for their upcoming snow plowing , keeping our roads safe for travel. Recently, Highway personnel from 3 counties gathered at the Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services Training Center to attend a course on Winter Plowing Operations & Safety, delivered by Ground Force Training, Inc.
Highway Superintendents and their personnel representing the following municipalities participated:

  • Putnam County Highway & Facilities Dept.
  • Town of Dover
  • Town of Kent
  • Town of Philipstown
  • Town of Patterson
  • Town of Southeast
  • Town of Yorktown
  • Village of Cold Spring

Putnam’s Commissioner of Highways & Facilities, Fred Pena, the host of the training, spoke of Putnam County’s commitment to public safety and the safety of the highway personnel that keep the roads open during the winter storms that frequent our area.

This is the third year of the training at the county. County Safety Officer John O’Connor, who coordinated the activity, stated that since its inception, the training program has reduced safety related incidents as well as greatly contributed to more efficiency during plowing operations. The increased efficiency and reduced incidents translates to taxpayer savings by using less materials (salt,sand), less man hours and extending equipment service life.