Triple trouble for travelers

Three infrastructure projects coincide on major roads

Route 117 in Chappaqua, a major north-south artery, is closed for a culvert replacement. THANE GRAUEL PHOTOS

By MARTIN WILBUR

If you’re driving through Mount Kisco this summer, don’t be surprised if you encounter traffic delays getting into or out of downtown.

Work to improve Con Edison gas mains on Route 133 at Croton Avenue began Monday with relatively mild traffic disruptions so far, but there is still no word from the New York State Department of Transportation when it may approve the revised design plans for the Preston Way bridge.

During the first few days of another project, the Route 117 closure in Chappaqua due to a culvert replacement; there have been no complaints to reach Mayor J. Michael Cindrich from residents.

Cindrich said following a meeting with representatives from Con Edison and the DOT last week, the utility will have its crews on Route 133 shoring up its gas lines five days a week until the job is complete. The village was able to ensure that work would begin between 9 and 9:30 a.m., when rush hour typically winds down and end by 2:30 p.m., before traffic volume picks up again for the afternoon rush, he said.

Work began on Monday, but due to the Fourth of July weekend, crews had Thursday and Friday off this week, Cindrich said. Police are being deployed at four key intersections along Route 133 to help the flow of traffic unless it is shown that they aren’t needed, he said. Some of the backups are a result of drivers having to navigate the closure of the Preston Way bridge. 

One intersection where officers have been deployed is at the site of the work at Croton Avenue, made more difficult because it is an offset intersection, meaning the exit and entrance ramp off the Saw Mill River Parkway is misaligned with Croton Avenue, Cindrich said. Other points along Route 133 where officers are seen are at Maple Avenue and Kisco Avenue, at South and North Moger Avenue and at the intersection with Route 117.

Con Ed gas line work along West Main Street in Mount Kisco.

On May 27, there was severe congestion on Route 133 after the DOT had issued a work permit to Con Edison and neither party informed the village there would be ongoing work. It is a sensitive intersection because it is close to the Saw Mill River Parkway’s entrance and exit ramps and volume has increased throughout the village due to detours from the Preston Way bridge closure.

“The problem was New York state had issued the permit and the village was not aware of that and there was no preconstruction meeting,” said Cindrich, who noted that Con Edison has been responsive to the village on this matter. “If there had been a preconstruction meeting, I, for one, would have suggested limits to the hours.”

Con Edison informed The Recorder that it is working on the gas mains in that area to ensure the reliability and safety of service to its customers. 

The work is expected to be finished by middle to late August, Cindrich said.

Preston Way wait continues

The news was not as encouraging surrounding the pending DOT approval for the redesign of the abutments to the Preston Way bridge. An approval of the updated document is needed for the village to go out to bid, which will eventually determine how much more money it needs to pay for the project.

The Preston Way bridge over the Metro-North tracks will soon be rebuilt.

DOT provided no clue this week how much longer the delay will last. It issued a two-sentence statement in response to several questions regarding the work and the expected time frame for approval.

“The New York State Department of Transportation is reviewing revised plans submitted by the Village of Mount Kisco for the replacement of the Preston Way bridge,” the statement read. “As this review is ongoing, we cannot comment further.”

In early spring, Village Manager Ed Brancati said Mount Kisco was hoping to have bid documents prepared and circulated on or about May 18. However, that was before the DOT surprised officials with a request for the redesign. The village’s engineer resubmitted the updated plans last month.

Cindrich said it appears the delay will stretch to at least mid-July, and the redesign could add another $1.5 million to the project’s cost. The last estimate for its replacement, at $8.6 million, was in January 2024.

If the delays last much longer, it could cause a dilemma for the village.

“Right now, the demolition can take place at any time, but when we get into months where the cold weather sets in, it becomes an issue,” he said. 

It was previously estimated that construction could take a year to 14 months.

The DOT closed the bridge in early December, pointing to an inspection several months earlier that revealed the span was unsafe for vehicles and pedestrians.