Talked about for years, the first of two Cobleskill-area bridge closures is coming in less than a week.
The Warnerville Cutoff will close February 28 for replacement of its two bridges, according to the Schoharie County Department of Public Works.
DPW Commissioner Tom Fagnani said the contractor for the bridge work, Bette & Cring, notified him of the closure. It was expected to close in March or April.
“It is early,” Mr. Fagnani said. “I thought they’d wait until the weather breaks.”
He said the contractor will post detour signs and re-route traffic on Route 10, Elm Street in the village, and on Route 7.
The northern end of the cutoff will be open only to local traffic and to the SUNY Cobleskill Equestrian Center.
Although one road closure won’t interfere too much with Cobleskill’s downtown commercial district, merchants are more concerned when the Route 7 bridge by Stewart’s closes for replacement in June.
Since the cutoff and Route 7 serve as detours for each other, the problem comes when both are closed simultaneously.
Business people and local officials have been working on plans to keep traffic flowing to stores on Cobleskill’s west side this summer.
The Route 7 bridge is expected to be closed through August.
Bette & Cring are to complete the cutoff projects by November, Mr. Fagnani said.
Harry Hale, Bette & Cring’s project manager for the cutoff work, could not be reached.