State Route 199 between Schultz Hill Road and Chase Road in Pine Plains will be closed in both directions from Monday, June 23, through the end of August, according to an announcement from the state Department of Transportation.
The closure — one-10th of a mile long — will allow the DOT to replace the Shekomeko Creek culvert that crosses underneath the road. Richard Frusciante, an engineer for the DOT, told the Herald that it is no longer safe to drive over the culvert, which was originally built around 1909.
A culvert is a round structure that channels water under roadways and obstructions, preventing water from pooling. Frusciante said the DOT is ripping out the entire structure and trucking in a box culvert to replace it.
As a detour, the DOT suggests that to reach Millerton, eastbound traffic from Pine Plains take Route 82 north to Columbia County Route 8A in Ancramdale and then Winchell Mountain Road (Columbia County Route 8) to Route 22. Coming the other way, from Millerton and Route 22, take Winchell Mountain Road to Columbia Route 8A and then Route 82 back to 199.
Travelers seeking to head south on Route 22 or access Route 199 east of the construction area can take Route 82 north to Columbia County Route 8 and then, about a mile east of Ancramdale, turn right on 8A, which becomes Bean River Road and intersects Route 199 at Pulvers Corners. This will be the recommended detour for trucks. Anyone traveling west on Route 199 from Route 22 will be required to take Bean River Road north at Pulvers Corners.
Town of North East Supervisor Chris Kennan suggests a faster alternative: Take McGhee Hill Road from Route 22, up and over the hill, and then turn right on County Route 83 to reach Pine Plains from the east. While a scenic option, this route involves steep grades.
Residents on Schultz Hill Road very likely will only have access to their road from the south end near County Route 83 and Bean River Road. Chase Road residents, if they are able to reach Route 199 at all, will only be able to proceed east on that road.
The DOT will post detour signs.