State officials assured Cobleskill business owners and others Thursday that they’ll minimize traffic problems when replacing the Route 7 bridge near Stewart’s in two years.
Those who met with the Department of Transportation, however, remain concerned that the closing of the bridge in 2011 may be a headache for customers and travelers.
About a dozen DOT representatives hosted the Golding School meeting, complete with computer renderings of the new bridge and redesigned intersections.
DOT is estimating the bridge will be closed for June, July and August, though project manager Katy Mangan said two months is more likely.
Side roads on either side of the bridge, MacArthur Avenue, alongside the SUNY Cobleskill campus, and Bridge Street, near Stewart’s will remain open during the construction.
Keeping those roads open will allow detours within the village, letting customers reach businesses on either side: Stewart’s and The Gables Bed & Breakfast Inn on the east and Kelley Farm and Garden and Hess on the west.
Owners of those businesses want to be sure the detours are plainly marked with signs directing customers.
“I’m not sure we got a definitive answer on that,” said Kathy Kelley of Kelley Farm and Garden. “If not, we would do our own signs.”
She’s worried that customers won’t use a long or unmarked detour during Kelley’s busy months.
John O’Donnell, owner of The Gables, agreed with Ms. Kelley. He was pleased with DOT’s presentation but unsure what might change in two years.
“Everyone appeared to be very accommodating,” Mr. O’Donnell said. “The question is what will happen at the end.”
As for emergency vehicles, Schoharie County Sheriff John Bates and Cobleskill Police Chief Mike O’Brien talked with DOT at Thursday’s meeting.
“I’ve been consulting with Mike, and I think their [DOT’s] plan needs a little refining,” Sheriff Bates said. “We’ll be working out the specifics.”
Although the bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic, Ms. Mangan said there will be a pedestrian crossing.
The computer renderings showed the new bridge with no overhead steel structure and sidewalks on both sides instead of just one sidewalk on the south side.
Also, DOT plans to eliminate Bridge Street’s hairpin turn onto West Main and make it more of a T intersection.
DOT is currently in the preliminary design phase; design approval is expected next month.
Ms. Mangan said DOT representatives will review public comments from Thursday’s meeting and possibly incorporate some of them into the plan.
“We take the comments very seriously. . .Public comment is invaluable to us,” Ms. Mangan said.
“We’ll address as much as we can. We try to be as flexible as possible.”
DOT is accepting comments on the plan until August 28. They can be sent to John Williams, Regional Director, NYSDOT Region 9 Planning & Program Management Office, 44 Hawley Street, Binghamton, NY, 13901, ATTN: Kathryn Managan, project manager.
Or comments can be emailed to kmanagan@dot.state.ny.us.
Continuing comment is essential, Mr. O’Donnell said.
“My business and others have to do our duty and write letters,” he said. “We want as much input as possible.”