Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27), representatives from the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) and Gary Hill, the President of Union Concrete and Construction announced traffic pattern changes to Route 5 and Fuhrmann Boulevard which will allow for the final year of construction along the new Outer Harbor Parkway. 

 

“Limited and confusing access to Buffalo’s Outer Harbor has resulted in little economic or human activity along this valuable stretch of waterfront property,” said Congressman Higgins. “As we move closer to completion of this transformative project we breath new life into an area that has remained desolate for too long and open up new opportunity for residential and business development that the will create jobs and excitement while preserving the water’s edge for public use.”

 

On Thursday, October 8 inbound traffic, heading north shifted from Fuhrmann Boulevard to Route 5. Route 5 outbound, for travelers heading south, will reopen in the next couple weeks. 

 

"Today, we mark an important milestone in the Buffalo Outer Harbor Parkway project that moves us closer to realizing this great city's vision of reclaiming its waterfront as an exciting recreational and commercial destination," said New York State Department of Transportation Acting Commissioner Stanley Gee. "Through the commitment and leadership of Governor Paterson, Congressman Higgins and Mayor Brown, this project will be completed on-time next year, providing safety and pedestrian friendly enhancements that complement the transformation of Fuhrmann Boulevard into a city parkway."    

The shift comes following a year of construction work alongside the new 3.3-mile Parkway running parallel to Buffalo’s Outer Harbor.  Since construction began on the over $50 million project in the fall of 2008, Union Concrete and Construction and the DOT conducted excavation, drainage and pavement work on Route 5; created intersections along the Outer Harbor Parkway with Ohio and Tifft Street; and completed bridge span construction at Ohio Street, Service Road D, Tifft Street and Outer Harbor Drive.  

 

“Cooperation between our company, the DOT and others involved with this project has been the best I’ve seen in 35 years, which is so important as we work toward on-time completion of the work,” said Gary Hill, President of Union Concrete and Construction.

 

Last year Congressman Higgins and the New York State Department of Transportation put together a volunteer, citizen panel comprised of local landscape and design experts to work with the New York State Department of Transportation on incorporating landscape and urban design elements into the project. The team’s combined efforts will result in a parkway with decorative lighting and ample street-side parking; a pedestrian/bicycle path with benches and beautiful landscaping, new fishing stations, picnic pavilions and boardwalks. 

 

Construction of the parkway, boardwalks, bicycle and pedestrian paths and design features will continue over the next year with the project scheduled for completion in October 2010.