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Saugerties, NY - In an effort to prevent traffic accidents at the dangerous intersection of Tissal Road and Kings Highway in Saugerties, Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Saugerties Town Supervisor Greg Helsmoortel, and other local, state and federal officials today announced $500,000 in federal funds to relocate the intersection by moving Tissal Road 1,200 feet north. Hinchey secured the funds from Congress as part of the Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (TEA-LU) measure, which is a major transportation projects bill. The president signed the measure into law in August.
"These federal dollars may very well mean the difference between life and death for those who have to use Tissal Road on a daily basis and unfortunately could get struck waiting on the rail tracks or on Kings Highway," Hinchey said. "Relocating Tissal Road is a project that has long been needed. We owe it to the hardworking employees of Northeast Solite, the truck drivers who make trips to the site, as well as the train operators, to make this important public safety upgrade."
A CSX rail line intersects Tissal Road in the Town of Saugerties, which serves as an entrance to the Northeast Solite plant. Much of the traffic leaving and entering Tissal Road is from tractor-trailers entering the plant. The configuration of the intersection of Tissal Road and Kings Highway is such that a truck waiting to exit Tissal Road onto Kings Highway has much of its trailer on the railroad tracks. Currently, trucks waiting to enter the plant when a train is on the tracks are exposed to oncoming traffic on Kings Highway.
"This federal money allows us to finally move forward with the relocation of Tissal Road without having to put a financial burden on Saugerties taxpayers," Helsmoortel said. "This is an important public safety project that will save lives. All of us in Saugerties are very grateful for Congressman Hinchey's efforts to secure these funds on our behalf."
Hinchey added, "In addition to improving public safety, these federal dollars will spare Saugerties taxpayers the expense of relocating Tissal Road. The Town of Saugerties has the responsibility to pay for part of this project, but now it won't have to spend any of its own money since these federal dollars are coming."
On April 27, 2002, a train struck a truck that was entering the plant, killing the driver of the truck. On September 21, 2002, a train hit another truck as it was turning onto Tissal from Kings Highway. The funds announced today will cover the town's cost for moving the intersection 1,200 feet north to allow for a safer intersection.
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