State money benefits bridge replacement project

A state grant has allowed the town to put in motion the replacement of a deteriorating bridge on Peck Hollow Road.

The project has been awarded $855,000 from the state’s BRIDGE NY program, part of $21.8 million earmarked for bridges and culvers across the Mid-Hudson region, but probably won’t be carried out until next year, according to Shandaken Highway Superintendent Eric Hoffmeister.

The bridge, the closest to Route 28 of four spans on Peck Hollow Road that cross a winding offshoot of the Esopus Creek, was “yellow flagged” last year by the state Department of Transportation because its beams had deteriorated. A yellow flag means there is a potentially hazardous structural condition which, if left unattended, could become a clear and present danger within two years.

Hoffmeister, though, said despite the flagging by the state, the bridge still handle the weight of snow plows and fuel trucks.

The BRIDGE NY program emphasizes projects that will address poor structural conditions; mitigate weight restrictions or long detours; facilitate economic development or increase competitiveness; and/or reduce the risk of flooding. It is administered by the state Department of Transportation.

BRIDGE NY beneficiaries were selected through a competitive process that evaluated the resiliency of each structure; current structural conditions; and the significance and importance of the bridge, including traffic volumes, detour considerations, the number and types of businesses served and the impacts on commerce.