Bridge over Black Creek recently Completed; Multi-Phase Project moves to Tree Removal

ERIE COUNTY, NY— The Erie County Department of Public Works’ Highway Division has announced that the next phase of reconstruction on Goodrich Road in Clarence will be beginning within the next week and will focus on tree removal and trimming within the Right of Way on Goodrich. This phase follows the recent completion of the reconstruction of the Black Creek Bridge on Goodrich, and is necessary to allow utility companies to move their poles out of the way of future roadwork which includes full-depth roadway reconstruction along with new ditches and drainage.

“My administration remains committed to fulfilling our responsibility to provide our residents with the best roads possible, and that commitment shows in the Goodrich Road project and in the dozens of other road projects undertaken across Clarence and  Erie County in 2014,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “Due to its location in a federally-protected wetland, we are meeting the challenges of the Goodrich Road project by working with our partners in government and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to coordinate the reconstruction. We are also sending letters to all residents with homes in the affected area to keep them informed on what will be happening and to ask for their patience as work continues.”

Letters outlining the work and signed by the County Executive were sent to all Goodrich Road homeowners on November 7.

Not all trees within the Right of Way on Goodrich will need to be removed in this phase, although it may be necessary to remove additional tress when the road project gets underway. Once a contractor is assigned to do the tree removals and trimming, an informational meeting will be held to inform all residents of the work being planned and the schedule for its completion. Road work cannot start until after Erie County receives respective approvals from the Town of Clarence, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, as the roadway is in a protected wetland and various environmental permits and approvals are required by each of these three levels of government. The reconstruction is currently scheduled to begin in Spring 2015.

For more information:

On the Erie County Department of Public Works, visit http://www2.erie.gov/