Poughkeepsie…The summer road project and paving season is well underway and the Dutchess County Department of Public Works’ (DPW) Highway Division is on track to pave more than 20 miles of county roadways as part of the annual Pavement Management Program. Thirteen county roads are expected to undergo pavement treatments by the end of the season, which typically concludes in the fall, depending on weather conditions.
This week, crews are working on paving areas north and south of the recently reopened Bridge RH-18 on Linden Avenue (CR 79) over the Saw Kill Creek in the Town of Red Hook. Additionally, this week, contractors will be milling and paving shoulders along Bog Hollow Road (CR 3) in the towns of Amenia and Dover and Boston Corners Road (CR 63) in the Town of North East.
Other recently completed paving projects include:
• Red Schoolhouse Road (CR 36) in the Town of Fishkill;
• Centre/Clinton Hollow Road (CR 18) in the Town of Clinton;
• South Quaker Lane (CR 16) in the Town of Hyde Park;
• Clinton Corners Road (CR 13) in the Town of Pleasant Valley; and
• New Hackensack Road (CR 104) in the Town of Wappinger (striping work to be completed).
“Dutchess County’s Department of Public Works’ Highway Division employees and contractors work tirelessly all season long to maintain and enhance our roadway system. When you’re out and about this summer, be mindful of our crews, slow down in and around work sites, and obey posted speed limits and directions from flaggers. We are grateful for the work our Highway team does to improve travel and safety for all throughout the County and we must do our part to ensure their work can be done safely and effectively,” said County Executive Molinaro.
Dutchess County’s Annual Pavement Management Program uses a variety of different pavement treatment options to extend the life of the County’s roadways, while improving the ride-ability and safety of the County highway system. Treatment options include hot mix asphalt resurfacing, hot in-place and cold in-place recycling, and specialty surface treatments. To see a video of a mill and fill project completed last year on Clove Road in the Town of Union Vale, click here. The goal of the annual program is to maintain the County highway system by addressing deteriorating pavement conditions well before a total rehabilitation of the roadway is necessary. This approach saves the county money, maintains the safety of the traveling public and diminishes regular wear and tear on vehicles that use the roadways.
The Dutchess County Highway Construction and Maintenance Division is responsible for the maintenance of 395 centerline miles of roadway. The Pavement Management Program is funded through the County’s annual Capital Projects budget in combination with state dollars through the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS). Projects included in the annual program are determined through a scoring system, traffic data, economic impacts and developments, history of road maintenance and improvement projects, and types of pavement treatments needed. A list of scheduled paving projects to be completed this year can be found here.
Dutchess County Highway Director Gary Cooper said, “I’m thankful to work with such a hard-working group of employees who work diligently each day to complete our projects in a timely and efficient manner. Roadwork may be an inconvenience in our everyday lives; however, the continued maintenance and upkeep of our roadways over time will keep motorists safe and reduce overall costs.”
To learn more about the work of the Dutchess County Department of Public Works’ Highway Division, go to dutchessny.gov.