Putnam Gets $1.7 Million More To Repave Crumbling Route 6

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY – Putnam County officials are happy to announce that New York State has doubled the amount of money it's allocating for the repaving of Route 6. And a disintegrating portion of Route 52 will be repaired too.

Last month, the state said it had allocated $1.7 million for the repaving of Route 6 from Reed Memorial Library to Route 312.

Now county officials have been notified that an additional $1.7 million would, in fact, be spent to repair and resurface the area of Route 6 along Lake Gleneida from the turn on Willow Road located at the Putnam Trailway hub, onto Route 52 up to the intersection of Route 301 in the hamlet of Carmel.

County Executive MaryEllen Odell met with Regional Director of New York State Department of Transportation Lance MacMillan, Senator Terrence Murphy, Assemblyman Kevin Byrne, along with Commissioner of Highways & Facilities Fred Pena, P.E. and other officials regarding the condition of state roads and the funding necessary to begin repairs as soon as the season allowed.

“My No. 1 priority continues to be the safety and well-being of the people of Putnam and repaving this section of Route 6 will make the roadway safe once again,” said Odell. “I appreciate Regional Director MacMillan taking our concerns seriously and expediting the process to repairing the state’s road. We are excited to know that the construction will begin in late May or early June.”

Legislator Carl Albano, who is Chairman of the Physical Service Committee and represents the area benefited by the repaving project, knew what everyone who's had to travel that section of Route 6 has suffered as the roadbed has worsened over the past year.

“Driving along the Carmel portion of Route 6, east of the Reed Library, has been a concern for many in recent months and our hands were tied on a county-level,” said Albano. “I am pleased that our state representatives were willing to listen to County Executive Odell and make this a priority project for the DOT.”

“We appreciate the New York State DOT acknowledging the importance to our community, repairing one of our main business corridors and mostly traveled roads in the County,” said Neal Sullivan, Chairman of the Rules, Enactments & intergovernmental Relations Committee.

Murphy and Byrne have supported the project helped make it a priority.

"This is welcomed news that we have been advocating for,” Byrne said. “Investing in our infrastructure, especially our roads, benefits all New Yorkers. More resources are needed for the Hudson Valley and I hope this is just the beginning."

"The safety of our roads and infrastructure is directly tied to our economic growth and quality of life.” Murphy said. "I want to thank our partners at DOT for hearing our concerns and acting on them. This is how government should work."

The monies are part of more than $100 million in state funding to repave and enhance roadways affected by the harsh weather this past winter. Funding will support 84 projects and the renewal of nearly 1,000 lane miles of pavement across the state, including at least one project in every county and New York City.

SEE: Odell Demands State Fix Route 6

PHOTO: Crumbling portion of Route 6/ Putnam County