MONROE – State Senator James Skoufis (D, Cornwall) announced a $9 million construction project to alleviate traffic congestion on Rt. 208 in Monroe at a news conference Friday outside State Police barracks on Nininger Road.
With traffic honking behind him, Skoufis talked about the pressing need to address the congestion on Rt. 208 (Orange County Route 105). He said that commuter traffic lockdowns can take as long as 20 minutes to travel through at Nininger Road, and Bakertown Road leading into the Town of Palm Tree. Besides the inconvenience, he said the congestion creates a safety issue with first responders often unable to get to incidents.
The project calls for the reconfiguration of both the Nininger and Bakerstown intersections. Nininger Road will extend to DAJ Boulevard in Palm Tree, expanding the three-way intersection into a four-way intersection. The Bakerstown turning lanes into Palm Tree will be reconstructed.
Skoufis said the project will start as soon as weather permits and will be completed by the end of the year.
Assemblyman Chris Eachus (D, New Windsor) noted that the project will improve traffic on other nearby roadways including Larkin Driven and Rt. 32.
Orange County Legislature Chairwoman Laurie Tautel said the project will improve the quality of life for those traveling in the area. Elected officials from the town and village of Monroe, the Village of Harriman and the Village of Kiryas Joel also attended.
Funding will come from a number of sources: $5M from New York State; S2.4M from the New York State Senate and Assembly; $1.5 in federal funds through Orange County; and the remainder from Palm Tree.
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