NYSDOT to host public hearing on Niagara Falls Boulevard intersection improvement project

Hearing set for Wednesday, July 21, at Town of Wheatfield Community Center

The New York State Department of Transportation will host a public hearing from 4-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 21, about a proposed intersection improvement project on U.S. Route 62 (Niagara Falls Boulevard) at NY Route 429 (Ward Road) and Witmer Road in the Town of Wheatfield.

The public hearing will be held at the Town of Wheatfield Community Center, 2790 Church Road. It will be conducted in an open forum format, whereby individuals can arrive at any time to discuss the proposed design alternative and the tentative schedule for property acquisition. A formal presentation will be held at 5 p.m.

The purpose of the project is to improve the traffic flow and enhance safety for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians along Niagara Falls Boulevard and at the intersections with Ward and Witmer roads.

As proposed, the intersection of Niagara Falls Boulevard and Ward Road will be widened to accommodate the addition of dedicated left-turn lanes on all four legs of the intersection. The existing concrete box culvert carrying Sawyer Creek under Ward Road will be replaced.

At the Witmer Road intersection, dedicated left-turn lanes will be added to both legs of Niagara Falls Boulevard and Witmer Road. At the request of the town and county, Niagara County’s Oppenheim Park driveway will be realigned across from Witmer Road to create a four-legged intersection. This will necessitate the installation of a new box culvert to carry Sawyer Creek under the new driveway.

Sidewalk will be added to the south side of Niagara Falls Boulevard within the work limits at both intersections. This project will also include installing Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant curb ramps and pedestrian signals on all four corners of each intersection. Existing traffic signals and signs will be upgraded.

A draft design approval document has been prepared for the proposed project and is available for review by all interested parties. Copies are available for viewing during business hours at the offices of the: regional director, New York State Department of Transportation, 100 Seneca St., Buffalo; Wheatfield Town Hall, 2800 Church Road; North Tonawanda Public Library, 505 Meadow Drive; or at https://www.dot.ny.gov/Rt62WardWitmer.

The selection of the preferred design alternative will be finalized after the impacts of the alternative, comments on the draft design approval document and all comments from the public hearing have been fully evaluated. The project is scheduled to begin construction in late summer of 2022.

Written and oral comments pertaining to the project will be accepted as part of the official record. Person may file written statements or other exhibits in place of, or in addition to, oral statements made at the public hearing. Written statements submitted at the hearing, or received before Aug. 11 will be made part of the record.

For further information, or to request a sign language interpreter or assistive listening device system, contact Robert Schaller, senior design engineer, at 716-847-3043, or write to the New York State Department of Transportation, 100 Seneca Street, Buffalo, New York 14203, and reference Project Identification Number 5308.37.