Raised pavement eyed for Route 787

Work intended to increase pedestrian safety

Staff report

COHOES, N.Y. » The state Department of Transportation will include installing raised pavement at the intersection of Route 787 and Dyke Road as part of an overhaul of the busy highway.

The work is part of a $15 million project to convert Route 787 -- also known as Cohoes Boulevard -- into a pedestrian-friendly gateway. The project will cover Route 787 through the city limits, from just south of Dyke Avenue to just south of the approach to the Cohoes Waterford Bridge.

“After meeting with community members, businesspeople and elected officials, we took a further look at our plans and have determined that we can achieve our safety goals and im- prove Cohoes Boulevard for all users — pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists — with a raised intersection at Dyke Avenue, in conjunction with our other design plans on Route 787,” acting Department of Transportation Commissioner Paul A. Karas said in a news release. “This is a vital artery for the community, and we look forward to moving forward on our work to enrich this connection for Cohoes.”

The new consideration to add raised pavement at Dyke Avenue — already proposed for Cohoes Boulevard’s other two intersections at Bridge Avenue and Ontario Street — would slow down the speeds of traffic on Route 787 with what officials describe as a “gentle but noticeable” four- inch rise and descent on the road surface for motorists passing through the intersection, providing a visual and physical contrast with the approaching road surface.

Along with the terraced intersection, crosswalk markings and other visual cues are expected to further contribute to slowing vehicular traffic.

While a proposed roundabout at Dyke Avenue remains an official alternative as part of the design plans, the DOT is no longer actively considering this measure.

The preliminary redesign of Cohoes Boulevard — presented by the Department at a public meeting in December — includes a tree-lined grass median, a multi-use path along the east side of Cohoes Boulevard, new lighting, “your speed” radar signs, narrower shoulders and raised intersections at Ontario Street and Bridge Avenue. The proposal maintains the existing number of travel lanes.

The DOT has been meeting with stakeholders following December’s meeting, and anticipates completing design work, letting the project and starting construction this year. Work is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.

The work on Cohoes Boulevard follows a recent $21.5 million investment by New York State in constructing a new Cohoes Waterford Bridge carrying Route 32 over the Mohawk River, just to the north of Cohoes Boulevard. The new bridge opened last July.