Designers of the new Hooper Road Bridge over Route 17C in the Town of Union are considering multiple options for the construction. The current bridge was built in 1964 and is in need of a significant repair. The New York State Department of Transportation and the design consultants, McFarland-Johnson, are recommending closing the bridge entirely for two to three weeks, rather than partially closing it for a longer period of time. A partial closure could extend construction time by several months. The idea behind the complete closure is to have pieces for the new bridge built offsite, and then moved in, which would expedite the process. Designers estimate that the project will cost around $2 million. A final decision on the construction alternative is expected sometime in June. The work is expected to begin in either the spring or summer of 2014.
