New Road Project between Morris and Oneonta 1935

New Road Project between Morris and Oneonta 1935

State May Build New Morris Road

Highway Listed in Projects Planned

In Otsego County This Year---

7 County Jobs

Construction of 12.5 miles of highway between Oneonta and Morris is one of the projects planned this year in the Binghamton district of the state department of Public Works, which includes Otsego and other nearby counties.

The complete program for the Binghamton district this year calls for construction of 33.72 miles of highway and 17 bridges at an estimated cost of $1,907,000.

F. W. Donovan, district engineer, who made the announcement, state that the appropriations do not include any projects that will be undertaken if the $4,880,000 federal public works appropriation is voted by Congress.

Construction of a new highway between this city and Morris has been under discussion for several years. “There is every good reason to believe that the work will start this year because of the fact that it has been listed as number one project by the State department,” James H. Thomas, resident state engineer stated yesterday.

While the estimated cost of the proposed road was not revealed by Mr. Donovan, estimates made last year placed the figure between $300,000 to $400,000. Condemnation proceedings were instituted in 1934 to secure the right of way for construction of the new road, which will be a 20-foot concrete highway with five-foot shoulders on each side. Many of the curves in the present route will be eliminated under the new plan.

According to the program announced by Mr. Donovan, four bridges will be erected between Otego and Wilsey Corners and one between Schenevus and Westford. A new bridge between Route 7 and the village of Sidney is also planned

“Plans for all of these projects are practically complete and rights of way have been obtained for most of the jobs, Mr. Donovan said “As a result it is expected that contracts for the projects can be awarded early this year.”

Seven county highway projects, estimated to cost $306,000, will be built this year. Work will be under the direction of Victor L. Hoke, county superintendent of Highways.

The projects and the estimated costs are as follows: Gilbertsville---Maple Grove, 4.2 miles, $76,5000; Willowville school--Myrick school, Briar Creek road, 6 miles, $35,000; Burlington--Schuyler Lake, 3.1 miles, $46,000; Fly Creek—Allen's lake, 3 miles, $45,000; Pittsfield—Garrattsville, 1.7 miles, $25,500; Decatur---Butlers Corners and Decatur—East Worcester, 3.2 miles, $48,000; Westford—Middlefield, 2 miles, $30,000.