Neighbors and town supervisor raise traffic-safety concerns over proposed Salamony Ready‑Mix plant
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Summary
Town officials and nearby residents warned that a proposed Salamony Ready‑Mix concrete plant could worsen backups and safety risks at the intersection of Route 17M and County Route 50; DOT told officials widening would require property takings, and the town has asked a traffic engineer to evaluate local roads.
Town officials and residents on Monday raised safety and traffic-capacity concerns about a proposed Salamony Ready‑Mix concrete plant that would route heavy trucks onto local roads. Denise Quinn, identified in the meeting as the town supervisor, said she has repeatedly reached out to Orange County Department of Public Works and the New York State Department of Transportation about the intersection at Route 17M and County Route 50.
Quinn said the state acknowledged the location is “an issue” but told her it had not met DOT’s threshold to pursue property takings to add lanes. “They would have to take property by eminent domain,” Quinn said, recounting DOT’s response, and added that the intersection “is a nightmare” during peak periods. Residents and officials said long backups can stretch through multiple lights and that larger vehicles — empty concrete trucks, tri‑axle dump trucks and tractor‑trailers — will slow traffic on hills and at signalized intersections.
The planning board previously discussed a DOT suggestion for a left‑turn lane at the intersection, but developers told the board it was too expensive, according to meeting remarks. Town officials said one mitigation used on other developments was an internal access road so heavy trucks would not have to enter the main intersection; the planning board can require such design changes as conditions of approval.
Officials also flagged local constraints that could limit alternatives, including culverts, road width and posted weight limits. One attendee noted weight limits on nearby roads “I think it’s 4 tons,” and Quinn said the town will have a traffic engineer inspect the road to determine tonnage capacity and turning radii for heavy trucks.
No formal vote or permit decision occurred during the meeting. Meeting participants said they have sent or will send letters to the planning board documenting local concerns; the town’s next steps include an engineering review and continued coordination with DOT and the planning board.
