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New Castle sets Sept. 4 deadline for Route 117 reopening as DOT works on culvert and utility relocations
Summary
Town Administrator Rob Deary told the New Castle Town Board the Route 117 culvert and utility relocation project is on track for completion before Sept. 4, the town's "drop‑dead date" so school buses can resume normal routes; detours and safety measures remain in place.
The New Castle Town Board was told on July 14 that state crews working on a culvert and utility relocation along Route 117 are on a schedule the town expects to meet before Sept. 4.
Town Administrator Rob Deary said the project began “a little over two weeks ago, Monday, the 29th,” and that New York State crews have started trenching and shoring to relocate a water main and gas lines so the old culvert can be removed and replaced. He said crews installed fencing and bypass pumping and that some work paused briefly while materials and Con Edison coordination arrived. “According to [the project manager], the project is still on schedule to be completed prior to, September 4,” Deary said.
Deary told the board the town has designated Sept. 4 as a firm deadline to reopen Route 117 in both directions so school buses can use the route once students return. The town and its employees are monitoring the work and have said they will press the state to add hours or resources if the schedule slips.
To manage traffic during construction, Deary said the state routed commercial vehicles on a long detour using Routes 120 and 128 and back to 117, while the town advises noncommercial drivers to use the Sawmill River Parkway. The town has asked its police and DPW staff to help place local signage and is using traffic counters to check for excessive speeds or increased traffic on neighborhood streets.
Supervisor (name not provided) said she had written to state officials — including Senator Pete Harcombe, Assemblyman Burdick and the governor’s regional director — to underscore safety concerns because Route 117 serves as a major route to Northern Westchester Hospital and because traffic has been funneled onto narrow roads with limited sight lines.
The town did not set a new contingency plan beyond urging the state to meet the Sept. 4 date; Deary said the DOT has indicated it will increase work hours if crews fall behind.
Next steps: town staff will continue daily inspections and coordination with DOT, and the board will expect the road to be reopened by Sept. 4 or receive notice of an alternative plan.
