Senator Steve Saland (R,I,C Poughkeepsie) today announced he has secured $151,000 in the 2008-2009 State Budget for a temporary bridge in the Town of Ancram.
The Hall Hill Road Bridge in Ancram experienced a failure in February 2008. It is estimated that work will not begin on a new bridge until 2009. The current detours are 6 miles for passenger cars and 11 miles for heavier commercial vehicles. Area residents have expressed concern that these detours may create longer response times for emergency vehicles, putting lives and property at risk. The Columbia County Department of Public Works believes the best alternative would be the installation of a temporary bridge, which can be dismantled after the new bridge is built and used elsewhere in the County as needed.
“The failure of the Hall Hill Road Bridge has created significant problems for area residents, causing longer driving times, and more importantly taking fire, police and EMS longer to reach areas on the other side of the bridge,” said Senator Saland. “This creates a potentially dangerous situation. The installation of a temporary bridge will ameliorate these problems until such time as the permanent bridge is built and opened. I am most pleased to have been able to secure funds in the State Budget for the safety of area residents.”
Columbia County Department of Public Works Commissioner David Robinson, said,” In February 2008, Columbia County experienced a catastrophic failure of an important County-owned bridge in the Town of Ancram. As a result of this failure, emergency services had to follow a 6-mile detour, which significantly compromised the health, welfare, and general safety of many County residents. Because the construction of a new bridge is over 18 months away, the $151,000 Senator Saland secured for the County allowed us to purchase a temporary bridge so that continuity of service could be restored to that area of the County. We are grateful for his hard work in helping our County with this important public safety need.”
