The 90-year-old bridge is categorized as structurally deficient, meaning it requires significant maintenance, rehabilitation, or replacement, and functionally obsolete, meaning it does not meet current design standards. Given the current poor condition of the bridge, this project is considered a high priority for replacement by Putnam County. The planning and design process have been expedited to allow construction to begin as soon as possible. The new bridge will be both longer and wider than the existing bringing the bridge up to current highway standards and providing a safer driving, cycling and walking experience.

The signalized intersection of Stoneleigh Ave. and Drewville Road in the Town of Carmel has poor sight distance and heavy traffic when there are shift changes at Putnam Hospital.  This project proposes construction of a roundabout at the intersection, raising the vertical profile of the westerly Drewville Road approach road, and drainage improvements.  The first roundabout to be built in Putnam County, it will allow for a continuous flow of traffic and improved sight distance.

This project will rehabilitate the Metro-North Railroad bridge – Bridge #5 – over the East Branch of Croton River in the Town of Southeast, Putnam County, NY, and build a multi-use pedestrian and bikeway at the former railroad trackway on the southerly spans of the bridge.

The bridge was constructed 115 years ago. It consists of four truss spans crossing 30 to 50 feet over the river in pairs. The bridge abutments and central pier are ashlar masonry construction. In depth inspection of the structure revealed several deficiencies which would need to be corrected before a prefabricated timber deck bikeway could be placed across the bridge. The bridge bearings are frozen with rust and the bridge seat at the southwest corner has failed, so that the bearing is not in contact with the seat. A significant diagonal crack crosses the west abutment and several of the large ashlar masonry units have become misaligned over time.

Railroad maintenance of the bridge’s steel components was inconsistent with the northerly spans, carrying track which was seldom used but none-the-less considered active until recently, receiving most of the repair, replacement, or reinforcement as required to maintain an active track. In depth inspection identified components of the southerly spans which will be rehabilitated as part of this project. The most significant amount of work will be replacing the bridge bearings, reconstructing the bridge seats, and removing and reconstructing (with concrete) a portion of the west abutment. Remaining ashlar masonry on the west abutment, east abutment and the pier will be repointed.

A prefabricated timber deck and steel railings will be constructed on the rehabilitated bridge. A 10-foot wide asphalt paved bikeway, total 700-feet in length, will be constructed on the approaches connecting to the similarly constructed bikeway in place.