State Department of Transportation Announces Start of $6.5 Million Project to Replace Sitterly Road Bridge in Saratoga County
State Department of Transportation Announces Start of $6.5 Million Project to Replace Sitterly Road Bridge in Saratoga County
Project will Restore Important Travel Link in Town of Clifton Park Damaged by an Oversized Vehicle in Spring 2021
New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez today announced that construction is beginning on a new bridge carrying Sitterly Road over Interstate 87 (Adirondack Northway) just south of Exit 9 in the Town of Clifton Park, Saratoga County. When completed, the new bridge will restore an important travel link for residents and commuters that suffered extensive damage on April 14, 2021, when it was struck by an illegally sized commercial vehicle traveling southbound on the Adirondack Northway. Sitterly Road connects Clifton Park with the Town of Halfmoon and is a popular route for motorists headed to area schools and retail centers.
“The Department of Transportation understands the importance of the Sitterly Road Bridge to the Clifton Park community and has worked hard to keep this key route open for travelers while, at the same time, expediting a permanent fix,” Commissioner Dominguez said. “The new Sitterly Road Bridge will provide motorists with a higher, modern and more resilient span that will enhance safety and ease travel for motorists traveling between Clifton Park and Halfmoon, as well as those on the Adirondack Northway.”
After the April 14, 2021, crash, the Department of Transportation worked swiftly to install temporary support structures and remove the damaged portion of the bridge. A temporary span was then installed to provide continued travel access while plans for a new permanent structure were developed. Due to the need to unexpectedly replace the entire bridge, NYSDOT assembled a multi-disciplined team of state engineers to streamline and accelerate the design process. The replacement bridge was designed in less than five months in comparison to the normal duration of 12 to 18 months.
Senator Jim Tedisco said, “The Sitterly Road Bridge in Clifton Park is a vital connection for travelers between Clifton Park and Halfmoon to travel to go to work, school, shop and access health care services. I want to thank the New York State DOT for installing a temporary bridge after it was damaged by an oversized vehicle and for moving swiftly to begin replacement of the structure and restore full transportation access for motorists.”
Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh said, “I’m thrilled to see that $6.5 million is being allocated for the much needed restoration of Sitterly Road Bridge. Thank you to Commissioner Dominguez and the NYS Department of Transportation for recognizing how important this frequently traveled connection is for residents of the Towns of Halfmoon and Clifton Park.”
Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chairman Theodore T. Kusnierz, “The commencement of construction of a new Sitterly Road bridge is a welcome announcement. This frequently used overpass connects our residents to area schools, shopping centers and healthcare facilities in Clifton Park and Halfmoon and I would like to thank the New York State Department of Transportation for their commitment to restoring this important thoroughfare in Saratoga County as quickly as possible.”
Clifton Park Town Supervisor Phil Barrett said, “The Town of Clifton Park is pleased work will begin on the Sitterly Road Bridge, leading to full replacement in 2022. We will continue to support the efforts of NYS DOT during the construction process and we endorse the new bridge design that includes requested pedestrian access enhancements.”
The new bridge will have a minimum vertical clearance of 16 feet, 7.5 inches, exceeding the standard clearance and raising the previous bridge clearance by more than a foot and a half. The project will replace the 325-foot existing bridge with a 270-foot-long bridge. The new bridge will feature two 11-foot-wide travel lanes with 6-foot-wide shoulders on either side and a new 5-foot-wide sidewalk on the north side of the bridge. A closed-circuit television camera will also be installed to enhance safety during emergency situations to assist in identifying and quickly clearing disruptions on I-87.
Preliminary survey work, tree cutting, and utility relocations will take place this winter into early spring. Stage one of construction will begin with excavation and concrete work in preparation for the removal of the old bridge in the spring. The bridge will be completely closed to traffic during the bulk of construction, which has been scheduled to occur from late June to early September to accommodate local school bus routes. A summer detour will utilize Clifton Park Center Road, Clifton Country Road, Route 146, Route 9 and Crossing Boulevard. Minor finishing work will continue with the project expected to be completed by the end of 2022.
For up-to-date travel information, call 511, visit www.511NY.org, 
or download the free 511NY mobile app.
Follow New York State DOT on Twitter: @NYSDOT. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/NYSDOT. For tweets from New York State DOT Region 1 (covering the Capital Region), follow @NYSDOTAlbany.
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