FOWLER -- State Sen. Patty Ritchie has secured a grant for the Town of Fowler to help repair a roadway that suffered unexpected damage after an influx of heavy traffic due to a nearby construction project.

Two years ago, the state replaced the Route 58 Bridge near Gouverneur.

Despite providing a by-pass in Gouverneur, many drivers chose to use River Drive in the Town of Fowler to get where they were headed.

Traffic on River Drive tripled, and those vehicles included tractor-trailers, large trucks and buses that the roadway was not designed to hold, said a press release from Ritchie's office.

The traffic and large vehicles caused damage to shoulders, and took large chunks out of the pavement. It forced the town to have to make repairs years before it expected to.

The town was denied funding by both the county and state, and contacted Senator Ritchie, who was able to provide Fowler with a $50,000 grant to cover the cost of the repairs, the press release said.

“It’s hard enough when small towns have to find the financing to complete planned projects, but when something happens, through no fault of its own, the stress of finding the money can be overwhelming,” said Ritchie.

“That’s why I felt it was so important to help the Town of Fowler, not only to complete this important project, but ensure this roadway is safe for its residents and those who travel on it.”

“These improvements would not have been possible without the assistance of Senator Ritchie,” said Fowler Superintendent of Highways Randy Durham. “We thank Senator Ritchie for helping us acquire this important grant to help make our roads safer for drivers, and for her continued support of our town through other state initiatives.”

In addition to this grant, Ritchie recently provided the Town of Fowler with $50,000 for to build a new community playground, which was unveiled at the town’s annual “Family Day.”