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Chappaqua Hamlet Plan
Local Planning Update:
DOT Prepares to Bid Route 120 Bridge Work
At the June 12, 2007Town Board meeting, Town Administrator Gennaro Faiella presented plans for the replacement of the Route 120 Bridge. With plans all but finalized, the New York State Department of Transpor-tation (DOT) anticipates bidding the project out over the summer, with a construction starting date slated for the late fall of 2007.
Third Lane Addition and Other Changes
Mr. Faiella reviewed major elements of the new bridge, which includes two separate spans—one crossing the railroad tracks, and a smaller one over Allen Place. A third span over the Saw Mill Parkway is not part of this replacement project. Significant changes include the addition of a third lane on the south side of the bridge, with two lanes bringing traffic east into the hamlet. Granite-faced walls, similar to the existing stone walls on the Saw Mill Parkway Bridge, will replace the metal side rails on the bridge over the railroad tracks and Allen Place. Where the bridge crosses the railroad tracks, an additional steel picket fencing will be placed atop the lower stonework in order to establish the eight-foot barrier needed to comply with Metro-North regulations. Sidewalks and stairways will be maintained on both sides of the bridge, with new lighting and granite curbing; and the current Y-intersection and triangular green will be retained.
Large Retaining Wall South of Bridge
Dimensions of a large retaining wall that will abut the south side of the bridge were not available at this meeting. However, Mr. Faiella indicated that instead of a single, solid wall, the Town has opted for a two-tiered design that will provide a terrace for planting. The same granite used on the bridge façade will also be used for the retaining wall.
Critics of the new bridge design voiced objections to the aesthetic of the continuous stone façade, preferring instead the metal railing and the historic connection that design has to the Town. Another speaker expressed concern that the bridge did not address traffic issues in the hamlet, and urged a solution that reversed traffic on Allen Place and Lower King Street. And several speakers felt that the DOT’s June 22nd deadline for final notification did not provide sufficient opportunity for public comment and input on the bridge design. Mr. Faiella indicated that the metal railing on the bridge no longer meets crash impact requirements, and Supervisor Janet Wells noted that merchants in the hamlet have not been in favor of reversing the traffic pattern. Both she and Mr. Faiella referenced the many times the bridge project has been on the agenda of Town Board meetings, which are open to the public; and it was noted that the DOT had only recently communicated the June 22nd deadline to the Town Board.
Widen Hunts Lane Turn
In addition to the bridge replacement, changes will also be made to the intersection at Hunts Lane, where a large boulder impedes the right-hand turning movement of large vehicles, including Chappaqua school buses. Plans call for relocating the boulder and widening the turn; however, the boulder may have to be removed altogether if it blocks the line of vision.
Mr. Faiella outlined periods when two-way traffic will be maintained during construction. These include the morning and afternoon peak hours, the evening peak for commuters, and Saturday mornings for an extended period when the town experiences high volumes of traffic.
Future Changes?
While not part of the current construction project, two ideas are under consideration for feasibility and possible future action. One is the possibility of extending the third lane from the bridge into town, so that it forms a dedicated right-hand turn lane onto South Greeley Avenue. The Town is bringing Project for Public Spaces, consultants on downtown Chappaqua, into this discussion. The second idea is to construct a stairway from the Route 120 Bridge directly onto the Metro-North platform. However, certain Metro-North design regulations governing such stairways would have to be either met or waived before this project could go forward.
Sheila Crespi
Update after the June 26th Town Board Meeting: The Town has notified the DOT of its decision to extend the third lane of the bridge into town, with the possibility that the work can be included in the bridge replacement project. In an e-mail on June 14 to the Town, the DOT discussed details of the retaining wall. Without the extension of the third lane, the retaining wall is approximately 165 feet long. Its height “is about 18 feet at the abutment (which includes the stone faced parapet wall),” and tapers to about 8 feet. With the third lane extension, “The wall… extended toward Greeley will be approximately 265 feet long. The wall towards the end will be decreasing in height and final grading will determine the exact length.” The two-tiered wall design chosen by the Town may affect the height. The DOT writes, “We are revising the wall height…to consist of two walls (stepped walls).” Drawings of the bridge and certain design elements are on display at Town Hall, and may become available on the town website (www.town.new-castle.ny.us) over the summer.
Updated Oct. 27, 2009 by Valerie Castleman
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