OBSERVER Photo by Greg Fox The section of the Thruway that stretches through the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation has been in a state of disrepair for quite a while, as evidenced by this “rough road” sign.

It’s up to the Seneca Nation of Indians regarding the three-mile stretch of road on the New York State Thruway that desperately needs repairs.

Matthew J. Driscoll, executive director of the Thruway Authority, says in a letter to the nation the repairs east of Exit 58 at Silver Creek are a “critically important milling and road restoration project.”

“Our position is simple: the moment you grant us permission, we will make the necessary repairs — in fact, we are eager to complete this project and are ready to begin work as soon as tomorrow,” Driscoll wrote.

“To put it mildly, we have been frustrated that multiple attempts to secure this permission — going back to written requests in May‎ 2014 and September 2017, and an attempt to raise this project again in a meeting this past January — were either met with silence or outright rejection by your Nation’s leadership.

The stretch of road has been in the spotlight recently thanks to a pair of press conferences by U.S. Rep. Tom Reed, R-Corning, and Chautauqua County Executive George Borrello. Both have taken on the state for the lack of work on the road. Compounding matters, in August, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the road would not be fixed due to an ongoing dispute over casino payments by the Senecas to the state.

“The Nation’s position going back decades has been that permission needs to be granted to perform this work — an assertion that you have litigated in court and in fact are still currently litigating the most recent suit brought in 2018.

“The continued lack of cooperation has created a safety risk for travelers along that stretch of the Thruway that affects Nation members and other motorists alike,” Driscoll said. ‎

“Again, our only focus is ensuring a safe and reliable roadway for travelers. If the Seneca Nation is finally ready to begin anew and wishes to act swiftly to move this critically important project forward, we are eager to partner with you.

“All you have to do is grant us permission and let us fix this stretch of road — just like we fix the other 500 miles of the Thruway.”