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Mayor and residents press for clearer communication as Alexander Road work continues with county bridge delays
Summary
The mayor reported the village accelerated Alexander Road reconstruction to overlap a delayed Kyoga County bridge project; residents criticized last-minute notices, disrupted bus routes and driveway access, and the council pledged improved written notice and emergency access plans.
The Mayor opened the Sept. 9 council meeting with an update on the village's Alexander Road reconstruction, saying the project is in an advanced stage and was accelerated after Kyoga County awarded the village $1 million to align the work with the county's Pleasant Valley Road Bridges project.
The Mayor said the county and a contractor identified in the record as Ruling Construction had previously told the village the ramp to Canal Road would reopen in four months but instead kept ramps closed for more than 18 months, creating "initial dissatisfaction" with the bridges project. "We have no control over their construction schedule or their operations," the Mayor said, adding that village staff met with county officials monthly and pushed for better coordination.
Residents used a three-minute public-comment period to press the council on practical effects. Aaron Aa, who said his address is 13716 Alexander Road, asked, "How come the project changed so much in how we were told it was going to be this road?" He said work in front of his house had been shifted, interfering with his daughter's bus dropoff and creating uncertainty about parking and driveway access. Staff replied that temporary ramps and driveways were established to allow resident access and that emergency vehicle access had been preserved.
Another resident, Michelle, described arranging most of her child's bus plan herself and called the situation "chaos," saying she had not received clear written notice. The Mayor acknowledged the communication gap and said the village would provide written notices in addition to updated message boards and electronic posts.
Multiple residents questioned why a foot-and-a-half gap between old and new pavement had not been temporarily filled to allow cross-access; staff said ramps would be installed to allow entry once the crew returned and explained detour routing around Hillside/21 for westbound trips.
The Mayor said the village's project was intended to minimize combined disruption and that work was designed to allow police and fire consistent emergency access. "There is always a plan in place," the Mayor said.
The council did not reverse sequencing decisions at the meeting but took public comments and promised improved, paper-based notices to residents in the construction zone as plans evolve. The agenda then moved to routine minutes and ordinance votes.
