The Peru Gazette

New York State Department of Transportation Acting Commissioner Paul A. Karas today announced that work is wrapping up on $7.5 million in improvements to 15 bridges across the North Country. The bridge maintenance projects range from deck replacements to painting, enhancing safety and extending the service life of structures in Clinton, Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties.

The bridge improvement projects include:

• $3 million to rehabilitate two bridges, one on Route 11 in Canton, St. Lawrence County, and the other on Route 3 in Harrietstown, Franklin County.

Improvements to the bridge that carries Route 11 over the Grasse River in Canton included the removing and replacing of the concrete deck surface, curb and sidewalk. Wider shoulders were created to accommodate cyclists. Bridge joints were replaced, bearings were rehabilitated and concrete substructures were repaired. New lighting also was installed

The bridge in Harrietstown carries Route 3 over the Saranac River. The bridge, which is a vital link to the Village of Saranac Lake and the Adirondacks, had the concrete deck surface replaced, new joints installed and bearings rehabilitated. Minor repairs were made to the concrete substructure as well.

• $2.7 million to clean and paint 12 bridges along Interstate 81 in Jefferson County. The periodic cleaning and painting of structural steel reduces corrosion and extends the service life of highway bridges. The project will help keep these bridges in good working order to assure the efficient movement of goods and people traveling to and through the North Country.

• $1.9 million to raise and make repairs to the bridge carrying the D&H Railroad over Interstate 87 in the Town of Plattsburgh, Clinton County. The project raised this bridge over I-87 by two feet to provide additional clearance and enhance safety for vehicles traveling the I-87 corridor. The bridge now meets the contemporary clearance standard of 16 feet, five inches.

Motorists are reminded that fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone. In accordance with the Work Zone Safety Act of 2005, convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone could result in the suspension of an individual’s driver’s license.