Kiryas Joel - Workers are clearing trees and excavating a hillside next to Route 105 to prepare for the reconfiguration of a treacherous bend and intersection at Bakertown Road in Kiryas Joel.
Orange County and the village are collaborating to turn the Y-intersection into a T-intersection with a stop sign and better sightlines for drivers. Kiryas Joel is paying for a small piece of privately owned land at the curve and for the excavation and removal of the dirt, which will cost about $136,000.
Once the excavation is done, the county will shift Route 105 to the cleared space and extend Bakertown Road by about 100 feet to meet the new roadway, Kiryas Joel Administrator Gedalye Szegedin said yesterday.
The road work is expected to be done by fall. The entire project, including Kiryas Joel's portion, will likely cost about $500,000, Orange County spokesman Steve Gross said.
The village plans to build a commuter park-and-ride lot on the vacated section of Route 105 after the road work is completed.
http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2006/05/09/news-0509pg9brief-05-09.html