OBSERVER Photos by Braden Carmen The New York State Department of Transportation recently presented a proposal to adjust Route 5 and Route 20 in the Town of Hanover from a four-lane road to a three-lane road.

The New York State Department of Transportation will host a public information meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 22, from 4 to 6 p.m. pertaining to a proposed highway improvement project scheduled to begin next fall on State Route 5 and U.S. Route 20 in the Town of Hanover.

The informal, open house meeting will be at Hanover Town Hall, at 68 Hanover St. in Silver Creek. The session will feature displays about the project and provide an opportunity for discussion with NYSDOT representatives, who will be available to receive comments and answer individual questions. No formal presentation will be made. The purpose of the project is to enhance safety and improve drainage operations along State Route 5 and U.S. Route 20 from the Route 5/20 split to the bridge over Cattaraugus Creek. A road diet is proposed to reduce the highway from four-lanes to three-lanes with one travel lane in each direction and a continuous center left turn lane.

Improvements to the drainage along State Route 5 and U.S. Route 20 will include re-establishing, widening, and cleaning of ditches and replacing culverts.

Traffic signals will be replaced at the State Route 5 and U.S. Route 20 split and the intersection of Routes 5 and 20 at Allegany Road.