December 15, 2009

HORSEHEADS -- The public got its first look Tuesday at the proposed connector road from Route 13 to the Holding point in Horseheads.
     It’s been in the works for the past decade.  But after natural gas company Schlumberger announced plans to build a service and storage facility at the “Center at Horseheads,” Chemung County officials renewed their interest to build a road from the highway right to the site.
     “We’ve tried to be very open about this project and get all the information that's needed up front,” said Chemung County public works director Andy Avery.
     Avery presented plans for the so-called "connector road" to the public.  The county conducted impact studies on noise and hazardous waste contamination.
     “There was a lot involved here. We have wetlands, we have state highways, we have residential neighborhoods, we want to make sure we get it right,” said Avery.
     The connector road will run perpendicular off of Route 13 just north of the Franklin Street intersection.  It’ll come out the other side on Ithaca Road at the entrance to the Center at Horseheads.  The intersection will be controlled by either a traffic light or roundabout.
     “A roundabout is cheaper, it creates a better level of service, meaning less delay,” explained Avery.
     “The more information I got, the more comfortable I feel about it,” said Randy Hanson of Horseheads, who owns land the new road will pass through.
     Hanson leases part of his property to Monroe Tractor on Old Ithaca Road. 
     “I don't know that it'll have a lot of effect other than it will restrict some of entrances we have now, and that's what we're trying to do now is make sure we have a new entrance off the new connector road,” said Hanson.
     The estimated cost of the project is $11 million, but the source of funding is still up in the air.
     Avery says the county is applying for stimulus funding.
     He hopes to break ground in 2011.

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