Erie County Department of Public Works prepares 2021 infrastructure work schedule

$28.4 million allocated for work on roads, road slides, bridges, culverts countywide

The Erie County Department of Public Works Highways’ Division announced the initial 2021 program of county roads identified for repairs, including roads in each of the county’s five highway districts, with mill and overlay work designated for several roads that sustained damage over the winter along with an extensive pavement preservation program for roads in outlying areas.

Nearly $29 million will be invested in infrastructure projects in 2021 with anticipated start times and completion dates for all projects weather-dependent.

“This summer will be a busy one and our highway crews will be addressing infrastructure needs all across Erie County as part of our nearly $26 million investment,” Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said. “With 2,400 lane miles of road to maintain, Erie County has a large responsibility to repair and maintain our infrastructure. Many of the road projects we plan on doing will be paid for out of 2021 capital borrowing, and I call on the legislature to pass the borrowing resolution this Thursday so we can begin many of these projects in May.”

Erie County Commissioner of Public Works William Geary added, “Each year and all year, the Department of Public Works is on the job taking care of our roads in all seasons. In 2021, we have a number of road projects that span the county and will bring improved road conditions for motorists countywide.”

Mill and overlay operations investing over $3 million are planned for more than 16 miles of county roads in 2021:

√ Harris Hill Road (from Sheridan Drive to Route 5, 0.91 miles) and Harris Hill Road (from Greiner to Sheridan Drive, 0.77 miles) in the Town of Clarence

√ In the Town of Hamburg, Taylor Road (from East Eden Road to North Boston Road, 2.63 miles)

√ McKinley Parkway (from Route 391 to Clark Street)

√ Webster Road. (from Abbott Road to California Road, 0.38 miles) in the Town of Orchard Park

√ Partridge (from Center Road to Hayes Hollow, 1.67 miles) in the Town of Colden

√ In the Town of Amherst, Hopkins Road (from Dodge Road to Schoelles, 2.03 miles) and North Ellicott Creek Road (from Niagara Falls Boulevard to Sweet Home Road, 1.26 miles)

√ In the Town of Tonawanda, Two Mile Creek Road (from fire tower to Kenmore Road, 1.6 miles)

√ Baseline Road (from Whitehaven Road to Bush Road, 3.2 miles) in the Town of Grand Island

More than $2.6 million will be invested in cold recycling/top course treatment projects, covering nearly 13 miles of county roads:

√ Salt Road (from Main to county line, 3.47 miles) in the Town of Clarence

√ Duerr Road (from Armor-Duells to Thorn, 1.15 miles) in the Town of Orchard Park

√ Middle Road (from Springville-Boston Road to Pratham, 2.81 miles) in the Town of Concord/Sardinia

√ Heath Road (from Hayes Hollow to Route 240, 1.72 miles) in the Town of Colden Hayes Hollow Road (from Partridge to Holland-Glenwood, 2.21 miles) in Colden

√ Zenner Road (1.5 miles) in the Town of Eden/Boston

Several mill and overlay/reconstruction projects are also slated to begin in 2021, including:

√ Reconstruction of Alden-Crittenden Road (from Route 20 to Spring Creek and Bullis Road) in the Town of Alden; this $5 million investment uses 2020 and 2021 capital funding and is anticipated to begin this summer

√ Continuing reconstruction of Maple Road (from Hopkins Road to Transit Road) in the Town of Amherst; this is a $3 million federal aid project using 2018-19 federal funding that is continuing with drainage work this year

√ A $3 million 2020 capital funding investment in the rehabilitation of East and West Road (from Orchard Park Road to Union Road) in the Town of West Seneca; this project is entering phase II, improvement of drainage;

√ Phase II continues for the $2.5 million rehabilitation and reconstruction of North Main Street (from Woodward to Route 5) in the Town of Evans, a 2020 capital funding project

√ A spring 2022 start is anticipated for the Wehrle Drive overlay project in the Town of Amherst, a $2.4 million federal aid project

Additional infrastructure improvements anticipated for 2021 include miscellaneous culvert repairs and replacements countywide, as well as bridge painting and repair on the Leydecker Road bridge in the Town of West Seneca. In addition, the pavement preservation program will address more than 75 miles of road for an additional investment of nearly $3,000,000.

For more information on the Erie County Department of Public Works, visit https://www2.erie.gov/dpw/.