TOWN OF KENT – According to a recent study of the conditions of state roads, the Hudson Valley’s Region 8 was ranked as the worst while having the most miles of lane roads, and more bridges than Long Island and New York City combined.
That statistic brought forth the need to improve state roads in the area.
State Route 52 in the Putnam County towns of Kent and Carmel will be undergoing extensive repairs as a result of state funding, according to Democratic State Senator Pete Harckham and Republican Assemblyman Matt Slater. The funding is part of a large initiative to repair roads in the region that have been damaged by extreme weather.
The Route 52 project includes $3.6 million to resurface Route 52 from Route 311 to Fowler Avenue in Carmel and Kent. Route 52 stretches through the towns of Kent and Carmel in Putnam County before going north into Dutchess County. Although areas of the roadway have been paved elsewhere, a strip of road located in Kent was skipped over. This area of road has continued to deteriorate over the years, resulting in numerous complaints from motorists.
Putnam Executive Kevin Byrne said the Route 52 situation has been “a long-standing issue… causing frustrating and inconvenience for daily commuters and businesses.”
Harckham said the new funding for road repairs is part of a $100 million state effort at 64 different locations statewide to renew well-trafficked roadways impacted by extreme weather.
“The current disrepair of certain sections of our state roadways is unacceptable,” said Harckham. “Governor Hochul’s timely influx of funding for necessary improvements on two important area thoroughfares will benefit local residents and small businesses, as well as those traveling through the region. Ensuring the safety of motorists on our roads needs to remain a priority when it comes to infrastructure investments, and I will continue to fight for funding to help improve the condition of our roadways.”
In addition to the Route 52 project, the two state officials announced that $5.2 million in funding will pay for resurfacing of Route 35/202 from the Taconic State Parkway interchange to Route 118 in the Town of Yorktown. Before being elected to the Assembly, Slater was the Town of Yorktown Supervisor and this project was one he had lobbied for on a regular basis.
