Schoharie County received more than $7 million to repair two bridges and two culverts.
The money is coming through the BRIDGE NY program.
The projects are:
•$2.9 million for the bridge over Cobleskill Creek on Caverns Road in Cobleskill.
•$2.7 million for the bridge over Bear Gulch Brook on High Street in the Village of Richmondville.
•$1 million for a culvert at Cotton Hill Creek on Huntersland Road in Middleburgh.
•$934,000 for a culvert at Lawton Hollow Creek, also on Huntersland Road.
County and local officials weren’t overly optimistic about getting the grants and therefore were enthused when the news arrived last week.
“We were ecstatic,” said Dan Crandell, county Public Works commissioner. “We’re pretty fortunate.”
The county must provide five percent of the projects’ costs, and Mr. Crandell said that money has already been set aside.
Richmondville Mayor Kevin Neary was also surprised and pleased. He credited Mr. Crandell and Deputy Commissioner Ian Kirby for designing the proposed bridge in Richmondville.
The High Street bridge has been closed for at least 10 years, and “it cut off part of our village and was a concern for fire protection,” Mayor Neary said.
Mr. Crandell, Mr. Kirby and Richmondville officials looked at several bridge options.
“At first we looked at just a walkway, but we didn’t think that would get funded,” Mayor Neary said. “This one did.
“It shows what happens when you have good people put together a good proposal and present it the right way.”