GREENE – Motorists traveling through Greene on state Route 12 this month may be experiencing some minor delays, but the $16 million state transportation department project will be tremendously helpful to the truckers and employees of Raymond Corporation.
“Once they complete the work, it’s going to be a huge improvement for us,” said Rick Harrington, vice president and general manager of Raymond, adding that New York State Department of Transportation Region 9 officials have kept in constant contact with the forklift manufacturer.
A 5.5-mile stretch from just south of Genegantslet Road to just north of Harbor Road in the Town of Greene will receive pavement, safety and drainage improvements, including turning lanes at all intersections. The project replaces a long deteriorating, 30 plus year-old section of Rt. 12 and improve the intersection overlap of routes 41 and 206. The project also includes enhancements that were recommended back in the late 1990s by a Chenango County Chamber of Commerce task force. Construction is slated to end in Fall 2013.
Having turning lanes coming off Route 12 will be very helpful to delivery trucks for Raymond, Harrington said.
A total of 50 right-of-ways were required to widen the roadway, improve drainage and allow for onsite detours for bridge work and maintaining streams. One home will be relocated. Additional strips of property were needed to address storm water runoff at the intersection of Rt. 12, 206 and County Road 41.
Some specific improvements include: The majority of the roadway within the project area will be widened to accommodate turning and passing lanes. The bridge over the Genegantslet Creek overflow will be replaced. The concrete slab bridge over Birdsall Creek will be widened to accommodate the new three-lane section. Culverts will be lengthened, replaced or rehabilitated and improvements will be made to the closed drainage system at the State Route 206 intersection.
Town of Greene Supervisor Jack Cook said the improvement will be “a big difference” for Raymond’s approximately 100 tractor trailers that access the company daily. He suggested motorists traveling north and south use county Rt. 32 on the east side of Chenango River to avoid delays.
Meanwhile, Cook said he is anxious for the Chenango County Highway Department to replace the Hotchkiss Hill Road bridge, which has been out since Hurricane Irene in September 2011. The bridge is along a main arterial from Greene to Page Brook, and travelers are forced to take a 10-minute detour. “We have to do something about it,” said Cook.
County DOT Director Shawn Fry could not be reached for comment. The county Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution this month to contract with Barton & Loguidice for approximately $22,500 for engineering services on the bridge. It is unclear whether Federal Emergency Management fundings have come through for the project, however.