After numerous close calls and one death, New York State has decided the intersection at Partition and Main needs “walk” and “do not walk” signs to allow pedestrians to cross without dodging vehicles. The state will replace the traffic light and install the signage this summer concurrently with the previously-planned new light at Main St. and Washington Ave.
DOT officials have declared the replacement of the light an “emergency project” because of the tragic death of Saugerties resident Robert Carlson, who was struck by a vehicle near the intersection on Jan. 30 and later died from his injuries.
It will be a busy summer for village construction. In addition to the traffic lights, the long-planned streetscape project will be done as will the final phase of the improvements to the aging sewer system.
The streetscape project includes redoing the intersections of Main and Washington, Main and Partition, and Main and Market using pre-cast crosswalk pavers.
In addition to the pavers, some curbing at the intersections will be replaced and better ramps with metal gratings will be installed at these intersections. Concrete-filled posts will be installed at Main and Market to prevent tractor-trailers from cutting the corner short. In addition, ramps will be installed at the intersections of Main and John, Livingston and Market, Jane and Partition, in front of Mirabella’s on Partition St. and in front of the Boys & Girls Club on Partition St.
On April 7, trustees awarded the streetscape contract, pending DOT approval, to Saugerties contractor J. Mullen and Sons for $595,133.48. Work is expected to begin later this month and be completed before the start of school in the fall. Eighty percent of the cost of the project will be paid for from a DOT grant. The village will pay for the remaining 20 percent.
This is the second time this project has been bid. The first time was last fall, but because of problems with how the specifications were worded, the four bids submitted had to be tossed and the project rebid.
Alex Wade, who heads up special projects, said this time around ten companies picked up bid packages of which five submitted bids, which ranged from Mullen’s low bid to two bids of close to $1 million each.
“I think those two companies took a look at all the traffic they would have to deal with and didn’t submit serious bids,” Wade said.
The sewer project has already begun, but the most labor-intensive part, replacing a 60-foot section of pipe on upper Partition St., will be done in the summer.
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