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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 26, 2011 Contact: Tom Staudter | ThomasS@westchesterlegislators.com | 914-995-2819 (office) | 914-815-4462 (cell)

Westchester Legislators Want Immediate Action On Lagging Bridge Repairs

Fixing our infrastructure means new jobs! White Plains, NY Several members of the Westchester County Board of Legislators (BOL) urged County Executive Rob Astorino to speed up action on bridge repairs around the County in light of yesterdays investigative news report in the Journal News pointing to dozens of roadway spans now in the state of dangerous deterioration. While 35 bridges in Westchester County are currently ranked by the New York State Department of Transportation at a level of deterioration requiring maintenance or rehabilitation, only one bridgethe Lexington Avenue bridge in Mount Kiscois presently being worked on while ten other bridges have their future repairs still in the design phase. Thats because the 2011 capital budget reflects only four bridge repair projectsPalmer Road bridge in Yonkers, Green Acres Avenue bridge in Scarsdale, Ardsley Road bridge in Greenburghof which the BOL added one. County Executive Astorino was upbraided by several legislators recently for not forwarding any capital budget projects for flood mitigation either in the past year. It is time for the Astorino Administration to face the facts and make the necessary investments in infrastructure projects on a proactive basis before falling debris causes a serious accident on one or more of our roads and highways, said BOL Chairman Ken Jenkins (D-Yonkers). Investing in our infrastructure shouldnt be treated like a political football. We need the County Executive to start pushing for bridge repairs right away, and the Board of Legislators looks forward to working closely with the Administration on this. Jenkins noted that the Journal News was incorrect to state that the Countys 2011 capital budget plan for roads and bridges is $27.5 million. The real amount is only $7 million. The Journal News also erroneously stated that $20 million of bridge repairs is awaiting approval by the BOL. For the record, no bridge projects are presently being held up by the BOLbecause there hasnt been a single project proposed by the Administration in two years. (None of the BOL members were contacted by the Journal News reporters working on the bridge repair story.) What matters most is that we start repairing as many as of these deteriorating bridges right now either start drawing plans or getting existing plans off the drawing board, said Legislator and BOL Public Works, Parks, Labor and Transportation Committee member Judy Myers (D-Larchmont). In good conscience, County Executive Astorino should fast track as many of the bridge repair projects as possible. (over)

Westchester County Board of Legislators News Release

Legislator MaryJane Shimsky (D-Hastings-on-Hudson), who recently undertook a tour of some of the crumbling bridges in her district, including the Ravensdale Bridge in Hastings and the Ashford Avenue Bridge in Dobbs Ferry, said: These two visibly deteriorating bridges pose a safety issue for motorists and passengers driving on the Saw Mill River Parkway and New York State Thruway. Emergency responders are very concerned about a possible emergency closure of the Ashford Avenue bridge because that would cut off Ardsley from the nearest hospital. The Ashford Avenue structure is the worst County-owned bridge in Westchester. As for the Astorino Administrations assertion in the Journal News article that funding is in place to fix 75 percent of its 35 bridges needing major repairs, Legislator and BOL Public Works, Parks, Labor and Transportation (PWPLT) Committee Chairman Bill Ryan (D-White Plains) said, Thats not so. If the funding were in place, the repairs would be ongoing. This is a matter of public safety. We have the responsibility to keep our bridges safe for the driving public. This County Executive apparently doesnt realize that. The Administration needs to get moving on this before its too late and people get seriously hurt or killed. Committee Chairman Ryan also pointed out the economic benefits of getting bridge repairs underway. These projects put our construction industry to work, he said. The County Executive has to understand that fixing our infrastructure means new jobs!

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