GREENE – About 80 people came out this week for a public hearing on improvements proposed for 5.5 miles of state Rt. 12 from just south of Genegantslet Road to just north of Harbor Road in the Town of Greene.

The estimated $16.9 million project would address the deteriorated condition of Rt. 12 and the Rt. 41/206 overlap, and includes recommendations from a task force initiated by the Chenango County Chamber of Commerce back in 2002.

Those recommendations include turning and passing lanes where practical, in order to further improve the reliability and mobility of the facility. The DOT’s core objectives are to rehabilitate the pavement and address safety and drainage related-deficiencies.

While state transportation officials are unsure exactly how to pay for the entire project, they plan to proceed with a timeline that aims for work to begin in the summer of 2011.

The Obama Administration’s federal stimulus funds would not be applicable, said Jack Williams, director of the DOT’s Region 7. Williams told the audience gathered at Greene High School that stimulus money is for “shovel ready” highway projects that can be completed in 120 days, not for projects on the scale of the work proposed in Greene.

Williams said the approximately $7 million federal funds previously awarded to the task force for what he called “enhancement work” would be used to pay for that work, however limited capital funds are currently available in Region 7 for “core” work that would bring the roadway up to safety standards.