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The New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) is organizing a public meeting to discuss the replacement of the Route 23A bridge over the Kaaterskill Creek in Catskill. The meeting will take place on Tuesday (December 2) from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Catskill Central School. The current masonry arch bridge, originally built in the 1800s and widened in 1927, is set to be replaced with a more durable steel and concrete structure.
The proposed new bridge will be 105 feet long, designed to minimize environmental impact on the creek below. The plan includes widening the shoulders for bicyclists and creating two uniform 11-foot lanes for vehicles. According to Scott Cook, a DOT public information specialist, the new bridge will be more accessible and resilient to extreme weather events. "It will have a scour-resistant foundation to improve resilience," Cook said.
The construction is expected to be completed by 2027, during which Route 23A will be fully closed in that section. Detours will be set up on Routes 32, 23, and 9W. Catskill Town Supervisor Patrick McCulloch emphasized the importance of public participation in the meeting, noting concerns about how the project might affect emergency services. "We want to get as many people to this as possible," McCulloch said.
The DOT encourages community members to attend the meeting to provide input on the project and discuss potential impacts, including traffic detours and emergency response routes.