Legislators discuss needed repairs to St. Lawrence County roads

BY JEFF CHUDZINSKI
North Country This Week

CANTON — As winter slowly gives way to spring, St. Lawrence County road conditions and needed repairs have come to the forefront.

County Legislator Rita Curran highlighted much needed repairs for a section of State Highway 37, an issue that has garnered the attention of her constituents.

According to Curran, a constituent hit a pothole on Route 37 and entered the opposite lane of the highway as a result.

“More than anything it’s a safety concern. Had there been an oncoming car in the opposite direction things could have ended very differently,” she told North Country This Week Tuesday.

Curran said a few constituents throughout her district, which ranges from Louisville to Waddington, who have kept her abreast of the road conditions and areas in need of repair.

“I just took the information given to me and passed it up the line to Assemblyman (Scott) Gray, Senator (Dan) Stec and our congresswoman (Elise Stefanik). It must have worked because the next day a crew was out there repairing it,” Curran said.

Curran also highlighted the fact that the issues on State Hwy. 37 are the responsibility of the state but county officials plan to stay on top of the situation and will continue to reach out to state officials to ensure highways are repaired and citizens are safe.

“The potholes in question were on a state highway, which ultimately is the state’s responsibility but we’re obviously going to step in and do whatever we can to take care of the issues. I pass along all of the information to Don (Chambers) and his crew takes care of it. They do a great job,” Curran said.

Due to the rising prices of asphalt, county highway crews were only able to pave 26 miles of roads last summer. The largest project undertaken by the county took place between Hermon and Lisbon.

The county had received $3,903,961 from the Consolidated Highway Improvement Fund and an additional $891,118 in PAVE-NY funding from the state.

Officials said at the time that the extra state funding was a welcome relief and would allow for paving of additional highways.

County Highway Superintendent Don Chambers said at the time that there was plenty of need throughout the county and the additional funds would play a key role in completing a number of projects.

Paving and bridge work will begin soon at the county level, with officials recently approving a contract with Barton and Loguidice, D.P.C. for engineering services for the Furnace St. bridge over the Raquette River in the town of Norfolk.

That approval came during the full board meeting on March 6, with officials awarding the contract to Barton and Loguidice at a value not to exceed $8,500.

More details are expected in the near future, including the list of bridges expected to be slate for repair, as well as the county highway paving schedule, Curran said.