Bumpy response
Silver Creek concerned with road work
OBSERVER Photos by Braden Carmen Road work is underway throughout the village of Silver Creek, as a State DOT project aims to make the village more walkable upon completion. Signs are posted throughout the village as the project has reached its peak of construction.
Pictured is the condition of the road entering the village of Silver Creek from Route 5.
OBSERVER Photos by Braden Carmen Road work is underway throughout the village of Silver Creek, as a State DOT project aims to make the village more walkable upon completion. Signs are posted throughout the village as the project has reached its peak of construction.
Pictured is the condition of the road entering the village of Silver Creek from Route 5.
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SILVER CREEK -- Driving in the village of Silver Creek has not been easy in recent weeks. A New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) project has led to the village's main roads and sidewalks being torn up for reconstruction, and many residents are not happy about it.
The public comment portion of the latest Silver Creek Village Board meeting lasted more than 30 minutes, and one of the topics most extensively discussed is the ongoing road work in the village. Several residents raised concerns regarding safety, as well as parking issues and the impact it is having on local businesses.
The primary speaker on the matter was Laurie Bifaro, owner of A Cut Above the Rest, a hair salon located on Central Avenue. She, like others in the audience, expressed frustration that the project moved forward without much input from the public.
"The state came with all the plans and presented them to us at an open meeting," Mayor Kathy Tampio said. The village welcomed DOT representatives at a public meeting when the scope of the project was finalized. Tampio said, "They presented it as 'This is what it is. It's not going to change.' That is what the DOT determined is going to happen. We don't really have a lot of say in it because it's a state highway."
The project, which is handled by the DOT, spans across the Village of Silver Creek, the Town of Hanover, and the Town of Sheridan, including portions of Route 20 and Route 5. The project is focused on pavement rehabilitation, sign installation, curb ramps, and drainage repairs. It will bring roughly 100 sidewalks and ramps in compliance with ADA regulations.
Project Manager Brian Dankert stressed a focus on accommodating pedestrians to provide a more walkable community. He said the new pavement surface could last 10-15 years.
A major area of focus in the project is the Main Street and Central Avenue intersection in the village. A curb ramp at the intersection of Central Avenue and Howard Street was installed. That specific portion of the work sparked several comments from the public.
"It's a mess," Bifaro said.
Another resident said, "I just hope nobody gets hurt there."
Bifaro also raised issues with the placement of a crosswalk across Central Avenue and Howard Street, that she claimed was detailed in a letter signed by Jeff Hornburg, the Mayor at the time, back in 2020. He said he did not remember signing such a letter.
Bifaro called parking in the area "a big issue." She highlighted issues caused by the project for several businesses, including Ellie's Deli and her own. Bifaro expressed concern for her clients crossing the road throughout the roadwork. On-street parking adds to the potential risks of the project, especially with tractor trailers coming through the area.
If the work is not wrapped up by the time snow falls, plowing could be another major concern. Residents asked the Village Board to come up with a plan with Department of Public Works Supervisor Brianna Griewisch.
"We're just concerned with parking, and really, the snow plowing," Bifaro said. "I'm hoping that I don't end up having somebody drive into my building because they don't know this big thing is there in the winter."
Former Trustee Bill Barnes, who has made a career of working in the construction field, estimated at a previous meeting that the project totals roughly $7 million worth of work, from the Routes 5 and 20 split to the Walnut Creek Bridge. He said that when he spoke with a representative from D&H Excavating, who was awarded the contract for the project, the tentative date for completion was close to Thanksgiving.
Tampio said she will reach out to the DOT to try to find a way to alleviate the concerns raised at the recent meeting.
Residents also discussed persistent code violations with properties in the village, as well as concerns with E-Bikes. Residents urged the village to continue pushing for action from its Code Enforcement office, which is hosted by the town of Hanover.