Poughkeepsie… Dutchess County Executive William R. Steinhaus has proposed a $4.4 million bond resolution to fund the Dutchess County 2009 Highway and Bridge Improvement Program for ongoing improvements to the 394 mile County Highway System, which also includes 312 bridges.   A $2.4 million bond resolution to purchase replacement equipment and work vehicles for the Department of Public Works (DPW) Highway Division, Parks Division and Airport Division was also submitted.

The total cost of the 2009 Highway and Bridge Improvement Program is $6,715,000, but the County anticipates receiving annual Consolidated Highway Improvement Program Funds (CHIPS) from New York State, which will reduce the net cost to county government to $4,415,000.

County Executive Steinhaus said, “Maintaining our County Highway System is vital to the safe and efficient movement of people, goods and services within and through Dutchess.  We have a responsibility to ensure our County’s infrastructure assets are kept in good repair.    When this work is delayed, it is far more costly for property taxpayers over the long term.” 

This year’s proposal includes funding for the following programs: 

• Pavement Management Program
• Guide Rail Replacement Program
• Bridge and Culvert Projects 

The bridge and culvert projects scheduled to begin in 2009 include:

• Replacement of Culvert WP-28 on Old Hopewell Road (CR 28) in the Town of Wappinger
• Replacement of Culvert C-20 on Hollow Road (CR 14) in the Town of Clinton
• Repair of Culvert A-38 on Amenia-Pine Plains Road (CR 83) in the Town of Amenia.   

The program also includes funding for several environmental studies required for design work to begin on the replacement of the Greentree Drive Bridge H28 over Crum Elbow Creek in the Town of Hyde Park.   This bridge replacement project will include removal of the existing multiple-pipe structure and construction of a new single span bridge.

Other highway improvement projects include:

• Retaining wall replacement on Red Schoolhouse Road (CR 36) in the Town of Fishkill
• Retaining wall replacement on Mt. Ross Road (CR 50) in the Town of Pine Plains.
• Drainage system repair on South Maple Avenue (CR 62) in the Village of Millerton.
• Slope Failure repair on Green Haven Road (CR 8) in the Town of Beekman.
• Intersection improvements on Amenia-Pine Plains Rd at Bean River Rd (CR 83/CR 59)  in the Town of Northeast.

The 2009 Highway and Bridge Improvement Program includes several federal aid projects listed on the 2008-2012 Dutchess County Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).   Projects include:

• Replacement of Crum Elbow Rd Bridge over Fallkill Creek in the Town of Hyde Park.
• Replacement of Amenia Union Road Bridge over Mill Brook in the Town of Amenia.
• Right of Way acquisition for reconstruction of Noxon Road (CR 21) in the Town of LaGrange.
• Right of Way acquisition for reconstruction of the intersection at Noxon Road (C21) and Titusville Road (CR 49)    in the Town of LaGrange.

The bond request was submitted to the Legislature for discussion at their March 10th board meeting and for final approval vote at the April 13th board meeting.   

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County Executive Steinhaus has also proposed a $2.4 million bond resolution to purchase replacement equipment and work vehicles for the Department of Public Works (DPW) Highway Division, Parks Division and Airport Division.     The proposed equipment list is a scaled-back, combined request from the original 2008 and 2009 Capital Equipment requests.   No DPW equipment or vehicles were purchased in 2008.

“This equipment is how we keep our roads plowed in the winter, our park grounds mowed in the summer and so much more,” said County Executive Steinhaus.   “We have made significant investments in our park facilities and our highway system.  These tools are essential to ensuring those investments are well-maintained for our residents’ daily use.”

The equipment and work vehicles are used for snow removal, road and bridge maintenance, repairs, transportation of materials and/or grass mowing.    A complete list of requested equipment is as follows:

• One-Ton Sector Patrol Trucks (Qty: 2)
  Used for daily road patrol, sign maintenance, patching, snow removal inspection and more.
• Two-Ton 4x4 Plow Sander (Qty: 1)
  Utilized for plowing and sanding in the winter and other needs during the remainder of the year.
• Gang Truck – Bridge Crew (Qty: 1)
  Used daily by Bridge Crew.  It is equipped with an air compressor, welder, generator, service body, hydraulic crane and two-way radio.  
• Gang Truck (Qty: 1)
  Utilized daily to transport personnel, tools, and material to job sites. 
• 6x4 Dump/Spreader Snowplow Trucks (Qty: 5)
  Units are essential to winter snow and ice control program. Used daily during the remainder of the year for hauling stone, gravel, blacktop, and more.
• Hydraulic Excavator (Qty: 1)
  Versatile piece of equipment utilized daily to install drainage systems, cut shoulders, pick up wood and more.
• Farm Tractor w/attachments (Qty: 1)
  Multi-use tractor utilized to mow lawns, rake dirt, install posts and more at the County Airport.
• 6 Foot Front Line mowers (Qty: 2)
  Used daily during the growing season to mow at the various County Park facilities.
• 16 Foot AWD Mover (Qty: 1)
  Utilized to mow the large fields and hilly areas at Bowdoin Park.
• 15 Ton Equipment Trailer (Qty: 1)
  Utilized to transport mowers, the Bobcat, tractors, and other equipment to the various County park facilities.
•  Two-Ton 4x4 Dump Truck (Qty: 1)
  Utilized to haul different pieces of equipment to the various County Park facilities.
• AWD Tractor w/attachment (Qty: 1)
  Multi-use piece of equipment will be equipped with a seeder, aerator, york rake, and a bucket to be utilized at all County park facilities.

The equipment bond is also scheduled for discussion at the County Legislature’s March 10th board meeting and for final approval vote at the April 13th board meeting.