Officials Demand DOT Repair Deterioriating Palisades Parkway

Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski, Assemblyman James Skoufis, and local elected officials today called on the New York state Department of Transportation to make immediate repairs to the Palisades Interstate Parkway north of exit 10.

It has been 15 years since its last major rehabilitation, they pointed out—and its condition has worsened to a point that has placed drivers in danger.

“A major rehabilitation to the northern section of the Palisades Interstate Parkway is long overdue and necessary investment,” said Zebrowski. “The PIP is one of the region’s most traveled roadways and these poor conditions and lack of improvements are unacceptable. Unavoidable potholes are creating unsafe conditions and putting lives in danger. We are asking that the DOT prioritize this critical project for the sake of the region’s economic development, and most importantly, the safety of drivers.”

The winding road has become a main commuter thoroughfare through Rockland County over the past decade and more than just patching is needed to deal with its dire accommodate the increased traffic, they said, urging the DOT to add the Palisades Parkway improvement projects to its 2014-18 Transportation Improvement Plan.

The last time substantial work was done on the Palisades Parkway was the ”Phase 1” enhancement almost 15 years ago. The complete restoration of the Palisades Parkway up to the Bear Mountain traffic circle was supposed to be completed by now but has not—as the project has been plagued by budget cuts and other delays.

“One of the basic functions of government is to ensure the roads are paved and safe,” said Skoufis. “That’s why we are calling on the DOT to do something that should have been done long ago: repair the northern section of the Palisades Interstate Parkway. The condition of this area of the Palisades is deplorable and the people ... that travel the parkway should not have to wait any longer or suffer from any more blown tires.”