Senator Rob Rolison Calls for Urgent Review of Poughkeepsie’s Aging Infrastructure Following Manhole Explosions

Following a dangerous infrastructure incident in the City of Poughkeepsie, New York State Senator Rob Rolison (R-39) is calling for an immediate review of the city’s aging utility systems. On Sunday, multiple manhole explosions occurred on Academy Street, and high levels of carbon monoxide were detected. One explosion narrowly missed a person pushing a stroller while walking with another young child. Thankfully, no one was injured.

“This incident is a terrifying reminder of the risks posed by our city’s deteriorating infrastructure,” said Senator Rolison. “We were fortunate that no one was hurt, but we cannot rely on luck to keep our residents and visitors safe. We need to understand the full status of the city’s infrastructure and what it’s going to take to fix it, and how we can prevent potentially life-threatening situations from happening again. Every resident and visitor deserves to walk our streets without fear.”

The City of Poughkeepsie is known to have particularly old infrastructure, and similar events have occurred in the past. Senator Rolison is now calling on state and local leaders to undertake a comprehensive review of the city’s infrastructure, prioritizing safety assessments and determining the costs associated with long-overdue repairs and replacements. Senator Rolison is prepared to work with local officials, utility companies, and state agencies to ensure that the necessary assessments are made and that a long-term plan is developed to upgrade Poughkeepsie’s infrastructure.