Board hears results of bridge study

WATKINS GLEN—The Watkins Glen village board heard the results of a traffic study during their meeting Monday, Dec. 2, where they learned a third bridge would not ease traffic flow in the village. Transportation Engineer Jeremy Glen of Hunt Engineers said while a third bridge could help in the event one of the two existing bridges were closed down, there is no real need for one at this time.
Glen said the study indicated the bridge, which would be connected to either Perry or Porter Street by the school, did show potential areas where it would help. Overall, Glen said it would not ease traffic flow much unless an accident or event closed the existing bridges on Franklin and Decatur Streets.
Glen said this study was conducted in September at seven intersections throughout the village during the morning and afternoon Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Mayor Mark Swinnerton asked why the study was conducted on those days while most of the traffic interference comes from tourist travel Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Glen said the Department of Transportation (DOT) considers those events more “isolated timeframes.” He said they want to see what the worst timeframe is going to be 365 days a year instead of “the one worst thing that will happen only a fraction of the time.”
Swinnerton said with the future wastewater treatment plant and waterfront development, the village’s numbers may change, but from what the study currently says the village is not in need of a bridge at the moment.
“Right now we don’t have a problem, we have an inconvenience,” Swinnerton said.
In other business:
• The board announced the public input meeting for the wastewater treatment plant is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 7 at 9 a.m. in the high school auditorium.
• The board tabled action on the potential purchase of a projector and projector screen to be installed in the village board room.
• The board declared a 2004 Chevy Tahoe and a 2007 Dodge Durango as surplus to be sold at auction. These are the two vehicles in the police department recently replaced.