Mount Kisco expects more bridge bucks from state

By MARTIN WILBUR

Mount Kisco will receive additional state money to rebuild the Preston Way bridge as village officials still anticipate being able to send out the bid documents for the project within the next two weeks.

Mayor J. Michael Cindrich said he has been informed that the New York State Department of Transportation will release “a significant amount of funds” for the work, which cannot start until the Village Board awards the contract to the lowest possible bidder. The village had hoped to go out to bid in May, but the DOT suddenly requested a redesign of the bridge’s abutments this spring.

Preston Way has been closed to traffic since December.

Cindrich said Monday that he was informally notified by the agency there would be more state funds coming the village’s way for the bridge. He didn’t know why DOT is deciding to contribute to the project, but noted how he and Village Manager Ed Brancati have continued to lobby for more funds and have threatened to scale down the scope of the project.

“I believe it’s processed through from the federal government,” Cindrich said of the likelihood of more state money. “So, my stubbornness and the hard work from the village manager in the meetings we’ve had with the New York state DOT, and going back to repairing the bridge instead of building a new bridge maybe gives them the impetus to somehow find some money.”

The mayor declined to reveal how much DOT was prepared to offer to complete the bridge replacement because he didn’t want to have prospective contractors tailor their proposals to get the maximum price. He said once the bids have been awarded the village will disclose that figure.

Meanwhile, Brancati said it is still expected that Mount Kisco will go out to bid during the week of Aug. 17. His office was told by the DOT last month that the department’s approval for the redesign would occur in early August, allowing for a quick turnaround to send out the bid documents within two weeks.

The Village Board has already authorized Brancati to release the bid documents once all the paperwork is in order. The additional money would be tremendously helpful for the village, he said.

“We are still looking to get that bid out,” Brancati said earlier this week. “We’re just waiting for their approvals. If there’s a question or a change, they’re getting that. So it looks like we’re still on track for that in mid-August in terms of getting the bid out.”

Once the bid goes out, Brancati said it will likely be open for about six weeks, with the board awarding the bid at a subsequent meeting. Construction is projected to last a year.

The last formal estimate for the bridge’s replacement called for an $8.6 million outlay in January 2024. It is widely expected that the cost has increased since then due to inflation. It is not known if the redesign will also play a factor in the final cost. The village has already set aside $3.6 million in capital money along with $5 million in state money.

The bridge has been closed since Dec. 3 when the DOT abruptly ordered it shut due to its deteriorating condition. The sudden closure has played havoc with traffic in the area and some businesses have reported sharp losses as customers are hesitant to navigate the heavier traffic caused by the detour.