A heavily traveled bridge on route 17C needs to be replaced, and construction could change travel plans for local commuters. The New York State Department of Transportation held a preliminary meeting Tuesday night on the replacement of the 17C bridge over Patterson Creek. The 38-foot span was built in 1932, and the DOT says it’s deteriorating. There are three options for the bridge’s replacement. The cost will be between $2 million and $3.5 million, depending on which option is chosen. The DOT said 80 percent of the cost will be covered by federal funds and 20 percent by the state. Two of the options include taking some land from neighboring business owners to create a sidewalk. Construction is slated to start in the spring of 2015. During construction, the bridge will be reduced from four lanes to two and will detour traffic along Hooper Road. The DOT said they hope to finalize their plans for the build by next fall.
