YOUNGSVILLE — Residents of Youngsville had an earful for the New York State Department of Transportation on Wednesday.

Representatives of the DOT were in town for a public meeting about a proposal to replace the Route 52 bridge that runs over the Panther Rock Creek, a bridge that often traps debris during storms and has been blamed for much of the flood damage in the hamlet in recent years.

A presentation from DOT Engineer Jim Esposito shed light on the department's options - either rehabbing the bridge, replacing it, or doing nothing - but left many with questions.

According to Esposito, rehabbing the current bridge is an option the DOT has already abandoned. Not doing anything is still possible as funding for the Youngsville project is in the hands of several agencies.

But should funding come through, the DOT has two plans it's currently weighing: one would involve developing an embankment that will help heighten the bridge, allowing more water to flow underneath and reduce the blockages that occur during floods. That option would require the acquisition of several pieces of property along Route 52, including the entirety of business owner Scott Gaebel's Youngsville Garage which would have to be moved to another location.

Another option on the table would require buying property and acquiring easements on several private properties along Route 52, including Gaebel's, to build a retaining wall that would again boost the height of the bridge. Esposito said that would affect Gaebel's business as it would close off access to several bays of the garage but would not involve buying out the business.

Either option, he told the crowd, is estimated to be in the $1.3 million range and would create a bridge the DOT expects to last another 75 years.

But neither option met with total approval from the crowd, many who expressed concern that the DOT representatives present were soliciting comment but not answering questions.

Linda Babicz, whose property is listed by the DOT as one that would likely require a temporary easement, was among those concerned. Her notice of the meeting, she said, only arrived two days before the event, despite the fact that her property is located right beside the bridge.

Babicz questioned how a bridge replacement might affect those downstream of the bridge - including her own home and business - as it would allow water to flow more quickly in times of flooding.

The project, she said, “does not promote sustainability of the existing community.”

Babicz asked for her own property to be bought out if the plan goes forward.

Resident Sharon Green brought forth other issues with the proposal, including a concern that the intersection near the bridge is already dangerous and could become more so if the road is heightened.

“I think we need to think long and hard before this plan is accepted,” Green said.

But other voices in the community called for the DOT to move faster.

Apartment building owner Dorothy Foster, on the other hand, said it's time for something to be done.

“I, along with just about everyone else here in Youngsville have been financially strapped by the floods,” Foster said. “We all better make sure Governor Cuomo comes up with the money; something has to be done.”

Residents will have to wait until at least December to hear what the DOT will do in Youngsville as the department will continue to accept comments on the project in writing up until Dec. 12.

Those comments can be emailed to marcy.senger@dot.ny.gov or mailed to Project Manager Marcy Senger, New York State Department of Transportation, Region 9 Planning & Program Management office, 44 Hawley St, Binghamton, NY 13901-3200. Residents should reference project 9BOW09 when making their comments.