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On the road again

Posted 4/1/22

It might not have felt like it this week, but warmer weather is on the way and that means something very important - road work.

According to Sullivan County Manager Joshua Potosek’s March …

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On the road again

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It might not have felt like it this week, but warmer weather is on the way and that means something very important - road work.

According to Sullivan County Manager Joshua Potosek’s March newsletter, the legislature is in a position to begin getting caught up on road and bridgework across Sullivan County.

Potosek says that, without racking up any additional debt, the county’s Division of Public Works crews are well into preparations for nearly $10 million in paving and chip sealing, plus $6.3 million in federal funds to redo all of East Broadway in Monticello.

This important infrastructure work being undertaken by the county is happening simultaneously as towns, villages and the state are undertaking repairs and rehabilitation work on other roads and bridges throughout Sullivan County.

Much of this work is desperately needed and will ensure safer and more modern roads and bridges for years to come. Progress does not come without some degree of inconvenience, however. The county says they will post updates on their social media accounts if this work results in single-lane or full road closures.

While nobody likes the delays that may result from sitting in traffic or being rerouted, it’s important to keep in mind the safety of the men and women working on these projects. Construction and maintenance crews across the state work alongside fast-moving traffic each day and the way we drive can literally mean the difference between life and death.

According to 2018 data from the New York State Department of Transportation, there were 701 crashes in work zones on state roads and bridges that resulted in 13 motorist fatalities and 329 injuries to motorists, contractor employees and NYSDOT staff.

NYSDOT reminds everyone to be patient when encountering flaggers, and to remember that flagging personnel are not attempting to disrupt traffic – they are simply doing their jobs and want to get home safely at the end of each work day.

Standing at the edge of a work zone flagging traffic to slow down or stop is a uniquely vulnerable position, and personnel are often harassed by motorists and in some cases are hit – purposely or by accident – by vehicles traveling through the work zone.

So please be careful and use extra caution when driving through work zones.

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