Poloncarz announces first phase of road projects to be completed in 2017

8 different projects span across Erie County, including road work scheduled to take place in Amherst, Clarence, Hamburg, Concord, Colden, Boston & Evans

Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz on Friday announced the first phase of the Erie County Department of Public Works' Division of Highways' 2017 schedule of highway, drainage and culvert projects. This phase includes eight different projects totaling just over 20 miles of roadway that are slated for completion in numerous municipalities across Erie County.

"While our highway crews continue their diligent work patching potholes across the county, my administration recognizes that more must be done to repair and maintain our vast road inventory," Poloncarz said. "This past winter, while not a cold one, was a tough one on our roads. The multiple freeze-thaw periods our region encountered caused significant damage to many area roads. There are a number of roads that must be addressed early in our construction season and this first phase of projects will repair those roads."

Among the roads scheduled for work in the first part of the 2017 construction season are Springville Boston Road in the Town of Concord, Route 240 in the Town of Colden, Goodrich Road in the Town of Clarence and Lake Avenue in the Village of Blasdell. Additionally, Maple Street in the Town of Elma, Old Lakeshore Road in the Town of Hamburg, Maple Road in the Town of Amherst and Lake Street in the Town of Evans are also slated for repairs. Bids are scheduled to start being advertised later this month, and all of these projects will include mill and overlay work that will greatly enhance the safety of each roadway.

This phase of road projects, including the initial mill and overlay and entire approved capital budget project list, represents a portion of the improvements Erie County will undertake to repair roads and infrastructure during 2017. Not included in the announcement will be nearly 100 miles of roads to be repaired as part of the proposed oil and chip, micropave, and, if sufficient funds are then available, second phase of mill and overlay roads throughout the county.

"My administration remains committed to providing the best infrastructure we can, and this first phase of planned 2017 projects underscore that commitment," Poloncarz said. "During the past four years, my administration has repaired approximately 1,010 of our 2,400 lane miles of county roads. We are anxious to get crews moving on these repairs and protect the investments that we have made in our infrastructure."