The Gallatin Town Board approved a detour plan on Tuesday, Feb. 18, to accommodate the Route 7 bridge replacement over a tributary of the Roe Jan, set to begin later this year. The project, located just east of Gallatin Town Hall, will reroute traffic to Route 11 and Route 82 and require temporary access for homes on Tinker Hill Road.
Columbia County Commissioner of Public Works Ray Jurkowski proposed using the Town Hall parking lot, with its entrance on Tinker Hill Road, as a pass-through from Route 7 to the upper portion of the road. The board approved the plan and will provide the county with a written resolution. Town Supervisor John Reilly asked whether the bridge would be closed from June 15 to Oct. 15; Jurkowski responded that the timeframe was “reasonable.”
Jurkowski also reported on a second bridge replacement on Mill Hill Road over the Roe Jan; the town is accepting bids on the work until March 6. Unlike the Route 7 project, there will be a temporary adjacent bridge to maintain traffic flow during construction. The new bridge is expected to open by the end of 2025.
In other business, the board approved an amendment to the town’s property tax exemption for volunteer firefighters. Law No. 1 of 2025 extends tax relief to Gallatin residents who volunteer in neighboring towns. When Reilly twice asked for public comment, one attendee responded, “I like it!”
Carol Smillie, the chair of the Conservation Advisory Council, discussed ongoing website updates and ongoing conversations with town historians about creating a shared website. The site could feature an interactive map, allowing users to click on locations for historical and conservation information.
Highway Superintendent Jack Gomm reported that the ongoing winter storms have kept crews busy. The board thanked him for his efforts during the recent icy weather.
The scheduled town historian presentation was postponed to next month. The next Gallatin Town Board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18.