Kings Highway & Greenbush Road Project Honored
SOURCE: Our Town · PUBLISHED: November 11, 2009 · AUTHOR: Our Town Staff Reports
The New York Metropolitan Chapter of the American Public Works Association recognized the Town of Orangetown Highway Department for exemplary performance on the Tappan drainage and road improvement project completed this year. For this accomplishment, the department received the 2009 Municipal Agency Award from the association.
The hamlet of Tappan was experiencing unusual flooding and ponding in the “village green” during normal rain events. Due to the lack of drainage, the flooding and ponding caused the roadway to suffer deterioration and erosion of private properties.
To mitigate the drainage issues, the Town of Orangetown utilized the services of McLaren Engineering for the design and layout of the project and easements. By anticipating the needs of the project and by use of the right equipment, the Town of Orangetown Highway Department was able to complete this project within the 2009 construction season.
Work began in April 2009 with excavation on both roadways and private properties within the project site.
As safety has always been the first and foremost concern of the Town of Orangetown Highway Department, crew meetings were held on a daily basis to discuss safety and health procedures. As there were excessive amounts of rain during the construction period, site conditions consisted of sand and bank run.
Shoring equipment was required as hazardous excavating conditions existed in the drainage trenches. Site conditions also included varying depths of existing underground utilities, which required constant adjustments to on-site efforts.
Due to the environmentally sensitive area in which the project site was located, the Town was required to obtain a permit from the Rockland County Drainage Agency, file Environmental Assessments and conform to Flood Plain Compliance regulations of the Town and FEMA.
Prior to work commencing, numerous Public Information Meetings were held to inform area residents and businesses of the upcoming construction work.
Additionally, the Town of Orangetown used other measures such as message boards and media releases to advise area residents, businesses and commuters of road closures and detours.
The cost of Phase I of the Kings Highway and Greenbush Road Drainage and Road Improvement project was approximately $345,000.