BETHEL — Work has finally begun on the culvert repair project on State Route 17B by Creamery Brook and Mongaup River.

Initially, work was supposed to start much earlier but fears of traffic jams during the Woodstock 50th Anniversary weekend in August delayed the project.

Bethel Town Supervisor Dan Sturm met with NYSDOT officials at the site to ask them to delay the work when it was announced in May.

When NYSDOT released the initial statement that work was going to begin, Sturm raised awareness that starting the project in the summer would hurt the tourist season.

Because of that, any work on the culvert was delayed until after Labor Day.

According to the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), the reconstruction project will replace the deteriorated culvert structures which carry State Route 17B over the Mongaup River in Thompson and Creamery Brook in Bethel.

The NYSDOT stated two lanes of traffic will remain open but will be detoured until the work is done in December.

Work did begin in the summer to create the detour road, but was stopped during the Woodstock 50 anniversary weekend.

The detour runs through Brother Bruno's Restaurant and Seven X Motors.

According to Bethel Town Supervisor Dan Sturm, Brother Bruno's made agreements with Seven X Motors for additional parking spaces.

Sturm said that next year there could be further work done to the bridge that goes over the river.

The NYSDOT also said that drivers caught speeding through the construction zone can receive fines significantly higher than regular tickets.

According to the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005, motorists are reminded that fines are double for work zone infractions. If a driver is convicted of two or more violations in a work zone, their license can be suspended.

For up-to-date travel information, call 511 or visit www.511NY.org.